State Farm survey shows most licensed teen drivers text while driving

Car insurance for young drivers

teen-drivers-insuranceThe findings from a survey conducted by Harris Interactive on behalf of State Farm have shown that most licensed teenaged drivers (57 percent), say that they text while driving, regardless of the tremendous amount of attention that the behavior is receiving as a risky and dangerous practice.

The survey was conducted over the phone, and included the participation of 652 individuals living in the United States, and who were between the ages of 14 and 17 years, 280 among whom had either a permit or a driver’s license. These results were compared to a previous survey from State Farm that was conducted in 2010, and showed that there was virtually no change in the behaviors of drivers in that age group.

Among the key findings of this most recent survey are the following:

• Teens do not seem to be getting the message about the dangers of both texting and drinking and driving. There is strong academic research that shows that texting while behind the wheel is just as dangerous as drinking and driving, and that they can both lead to the same fatal consequences.

The survey suggested that 35 percent of the participants still strongly agree that they risk being killed one day if they regularly text and drive. At the same time, 57 percent believe that regular drinking and driving could lead to a fatality.

• The survey also indicated that more teens believe that they are more likely to be involved in an accident if they drink and drive than if they text and drive. Among the respondents, 63 percent strongly agreed that if they text and drive on a regular basis, they will be in an accident. However, 83 percent said that they strongly agree that they’d get into an accident if they regularly drink and drive.

The survey also indicated that parents play a critical role in building safe driving habits among teens. It found that the teens who were least likely to text behind the wheel were also those who said that they had held regular discussions with their parents on the topic of safe driving.

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