Sharing the road with new, teenage drivers is unavoidable in New Jersey. Yet, you would be wise to exercise care and drive defensively every time you get behind the wheel. Teen motorists lack the experience of older motorists, and many of them also admit to engaging in highly dangerous driving behaviors that increase the risk of a crash.
According to U.S. News and World Report, while teens admit to many different dangerous behind-the-wheel behaviors, two of the most common and dangerous behaviors teens admit to include speeding and texting.
How often teen drivers speed and text
Studies show that teens speed and text at high rates while driving, even when they live in states where laws ban the use of handheld cellphones. The results of a recent study showed that teen drivers acknowledged speeding during 40% of the trips they made by car. They also admitted to using their handheld cellphones in 30% of instances and doing both behaviors – speeding and using a handheld cellphone – during 5% of the trips they took by car. There was no notable difference in terms of how likely male teenagers were to engage in these behaviors versus female teen motorists.
How often teen drivers engage in other risky driving behaviors
Teen motorists also reported engaging in several other dangerous driving behaviors. For instance, teens admitted to slamming on their brakes or accelerating more rapidly than necessary in about 10% of trips they took. However, make teenagers were more prone to hard braking and rapid acceleration than their female peers.
Parents of teenage children may want to limit when and with whom their teens may drive until they prove responsibility behind the wheel and gain adequate driving experience.