Colorado residents will likely not be surprised to learn that 40 percent of teens admit to sending or receiving text messages while behind the wheel, but they may be concerned about some other risky behavior that younger drivers have engaged in. A study published in the Journal of Transportation Safety and Security on March 16 reveals that teens admit to activities such as changing clothes, completing homework and putting on makeup while driving.
According to researchers, the problem is that teens often do not appreciate how even minor distractions can greatly increase their chances of being involved in a motor vehicle accident. To drive home this message, researchers went to several schools and asked students to perform simple multitasking exercises. Many students were surprised to find out that they had difficulty listing a straightforward series of numbers on a blackboard while having a telephone conversation, and they vowed to apply this lesson while behind the wheel.
It is hoped that this kind of effort will reduce the number of distracted driving accidents involving teens. Public awareness campaigns have been found to be an effective way to reduce cellphone use among younger drivers, and the goal is to now convince teens that any form of multitasking while driving is dangerous.
While these efforts could save the lives of younger drivers in Colorado, they could also help to reduce the injuries suffered by the victims of distracted driving accidents. This type of collision often occurs at highway speeds, and the resulting injuries are frequently catastrophic in nature. A personal injury attorney pursuing civil remedies on behalf of accident victims could seek damages that could include coverage of their medical expenses and compensation for wages lost due to an inability to work.