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Forbes
03-07-2025
- Automotive
- Forbes
Teens Use Cell Phones While Driving 21% Of The Time
Teenage drivers have admitted to looking at their cell phones one-fifth of the time when they're behind the wheel, most commonly to be entertained, text or follow a map, a new study published in the Traffic Injury Prevention journal shows. A driver uses a phone while behind the wheel of a car. Getty Images A survey of more than 1,100 teens from across the country saw participants admit to spending an average of 21% of each trip using their phones while driving. Of those instances, more than a quarter lasted two seconds or longer, participants reported, which significantly increases the risk of a crash or near crash, according to a 2014 study. Teens said driving distracted allows them to be entertained or productive while on the road, and that they're more likely to use their phones behind the wheel when they haven't gotten enough sleep. Most participants said they understand that distracted driving is dangerous and that their parents would rather they not, but they said their friends are also using their phones behind the wheel. Get Forbes Breaking News Text Alerts: We're launching text message alerts so you'll always know the biggest stories shaping the day's headlines. Text 'Alerts' to (201) 335-0739 or sign up here : 235. That's how many people were killed in crashes involving distracted drivers between the ages of 15 and 19 in 2022, according to the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia's Teen Driver Source. Distracted driving was blamed for the deaths of 3,275 people in 2023—about 9 deaths per day on average—according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. All but one state, Montana, has legally banned texting while behind the wheel for all drivers and, as of December, 35 states have illegalized all types of phone use among young drivers. Despite the restrictions, one 2023 poll found that while 97% of teen drivers agree texting and driving is dangerous, 43% admitted to doing it anyway. Further Reading Forbes Teens Teaming With Teens To Create A Better World By Kate Vitasek Forbes American Teens Experience Enormous Pressures Related To Mental Health, New Study Finds By Omer Awan
Los Angeles Times
16-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Los Angeles Times
Opinion: Student impact of the Every 15 Minutes program
Volunteer students pulled out of class are called the 'Living Dead' and wore skull face paint, along with an Every 15 Minutes program shirt to distinguish them from the living. The 'Living Dead' weren't allowed to interact with any other students and spent the duration of the program in a hotel with the other 'deceased' students. Meanwhile, their parents, who are aware of their child's participation in the program, receive the fake news of their child's death from a police officer who comes to their work or home. On the second day of the program, April 4, a mock car accident was staged behind the performing arts center during an extended lunch. Program participant students were placed in two wrecked vehicles, covered in fake blood and makeup, while paramedics and police officers showed up to the scene to arrest drunk driver and rescue the injured and dead students from the collision. Photo Courtesy of Lily Zimmerman The program concluded with a third-period assembly, one for underclassmen that was meant to be more sensitive and discretionary and a second for upperclassmen that was more emotional and authentic. The same keynote speakers were presented at both assemblies and shared his experiences on the impact of drunk driving. '(Every 15 Minutes) makes you think it could be you, and that (an accident) can happen to anyone; no one's the exception¨, Ellie Sutherland, one of the Living Dead. Notably, upperclassmen have felt the largest effect of Every 15 Minutes due to the absence of their friends, as well as it being more likely that someone taking part in the simulation will come from one of their classes. Every 15 Minutes is known for how dramatic it is; however, this is it´s worst quality. Instead of informing students, it's either an overly emotional experience or easy to mock. How effective is it to tell kids not to drink and drive than to make them feel like their classmates or friends are dead? Stimulating a death to trigger emotions for many feels too extreme. '(Every 15 Minutes) needs to be (over-dramatic) for students and teens who drink and need to know this,' said senior Priya Marquez. Of the young drivers aged 15-20 in 2022 who were drinking and died in a car accident, 67% of them were unrestrained. Teenage drivers are less likely to drink and drive compared to adults, but when they do, their risk of an accident is significantly higher regardless of low blood-alcohol levels, according to Teen Driver Source. Reflecting back on this impactful event, I thought that The Youth Center did an amazing job executing the program, but the best part was the Focus Studies short film. However, I believe the message 'don't drink and drive' is told universally and is something high schoolers commonly understand. Although a strong emotional reaction is a large part of Every 15 Minutes, I believe a program that is less emotional and more thought-provoking could be just as effective.
