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Liberty, MO Auto Accident Lawyer Says: Talk To Your Teen about Distracted Driving

April is National Distracted Driving Awareness Month. The Liberty, MO auto accident lawyers at Kansas City Accident Injury Attorneys suggest that you use this opportunity to talk to your teen about the dangers of distracted driving.

In 2009, distracted driving was blamed for 5,800 fatalities. Drivers under the age of 20, had highest incidence of distracted driving crashes.

A recent study by The Pew Research Center's Internet & American Life Project found that one-quarter of American teenagers over the age of 16 admit to having texted while driving. Half of all teens ages 12 to 17 say they've been a passenger while a driver has texted behind the wheel. Boys and girls are equally likely to report texting behind the wheel, as well as riding with texting drivers. Older teens are more likely to ride with drivers who text than younger teens, perhaps because they are more likely to have friends who drive.

Text messaging may be the most dangerous of cell phone activities. The Virginia Tech Transportation Institute (VTTI) examined several tasks that take drivers' eyes away from the road. They found that text messaging on a cell phone increases the risk of an accident by 23 times.

But, educating teens of the risk may not be enough. A more recent survey sponsored by Seventeen Magazine and the AAA auto found the Pew survey might be an underestimate. In this survey, nine out of ten teenage drivers admitted to engaging in distracted-driving behaviors such as texting or talking on a cellphone. However, 84 percent of those surveyed admitted to knowing that driving while using a cell phone or texting is dangerous.

Why do teens engage in distracted driving behaviors:

• It will only take a split second (41%)
  
• I don't think I'll get hurt (35%)
• It makes driving less boring (22%)
• I'm used to being connected to people all the time (21%)

Talk to your teen about the dangers of distracted driving. Remind your teen of the importance of being alert and focused while driving. Make these suggestions into rules:

• Keep your hands on the steering wheel and your eyes on the road
• Turn off your cell phone while driving.
• Avoid other distracting activities, including eating and drinking, grooming, heated conversations, reading, programming a GPS, watching a video and adjusting and MP3 player or radio.

Remind your teen that it only takes one moment of distraction to cause a potentially fatal car accident. Finally, set an example. Make sure you also avoid distractions when you drive.

If your teen has been injured in a Missouri distracted driving car accident, you may be eligible for compensation for your child's injuries. To learn more, contact the Kansas City Accident Injury Attorneys and ask to schedule a free consultation with a Liberty, MO auto accident lawyer.

To learn more about your rights after a Missouri car crash, download a free copy of "10 Essential Steps You Must Take To Protect Your Injury Claim."

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