Teens Learn Poor Driving Habits from Their Parents

Our Pennsylvania car accident attorneys previously reported that over the past five years in Pennsylvania, distracted driving led to nearly 4,000 crashes involving 16- and 17-year-old drivers and resulted in 18 deaths.  We often ask parents to impress upon their teen drivers the importance of staying focused while driving and not using their cellphones.  However, according to a new study, parents may actually be the cause of their childrens’ poor driving behaviors.

In the survey from Liberty Mutual and Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD), researchers found that an overwhelming number of the young drivers reported they get their poor driving habits from their parents.  Of the 1,700 teens surveyed, over 90 percent of them report their parents talk on the cell while driving, 88 percent of their parents speed, and 59 percent reported their parents have sent a text while driving.  Still worse, 20 percent of them said their parents have driven while under the influence of alcohol.

These dangerous driving habits were observed while the teens were in the car being driven by their parents.  Unfortunately, the “do as I say, not as I do” approach to driving does not work so well with teenagers.

The teens surveyed reported they are following their parents’ actions when they drive.  According to the survey:

• 90 percent of teens report talking on a cell phone while driving;
• 94 percent of teens speed (at least occasionally);
• Nearly 80 percent of teens report sending text messages while driving;
• 15 percent have driven under the influence of alcohol; and
• 33 percent report driving without a seatbelt.

“The best teacher for a teen driver is a good parental role model,” said Stephen Wallace, senior advisor for policy, research and education at  SADD. “But parents have to demonstrate good driving behavior from the onset so new drivers understand that safe driving rules apply to everyone equally.”

Our Pennsylvania car accident attorneys cannot stress enough the importance of being a safe driver when your children are in the car.  Not only is it important for their safety while you are driving, it is also important for their safety anytime they get behind the wheel.

About Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys

Munley Law is a Pennsylvania accident and injury law firm that represents car accident victims and their families throughout the state of Pennsylvania and the Northeast, including those injured in accidents that involve speeding, distracted driving, drunk driving, fatigued driving, aggressive driving and careless driving in hazardous weather conditions. The Pennsylvania personal injury law firm’s additional practice areas include trucking accidents, motorcycle accidents, medical malpractice, defective products, toxic chemicals, workplace injuries, nursing home litigation and other serious accidents. To contact the law firm, use the firm’s online contact form.