A recent study from AAA found that two out of every three drivers have used a cellphone within the past month. However, the regular usage of a mobile device behind the wheel varied greatly depending on the age of the driver. <\/p>\n
Only about 20 percent of motorists ages 16 to 18 reported being on their phone "fairly often," compared to more than 43 percent of drivers ages 25 to 39. When asked if they had used a phone at least once, about 58 percent of teens said they had. That was significantly lower than drivers ages 25 to 39, of which about 82 percent reported using a device. <\/p>\n
Most of these slightly older drivers likely felt more comfortable controlling a car, and believed that texting or making a phone call wasn't as dangerous as a result. Unfortunately, that confidence can sometimes be misplaced, as those motorists who get distracted by technology are four times more likely to be involved in a crash, AAA reported. <\/p>\n
"It's noteworthy that the young novice drivers are using their phones while driving less than older drivers since, given their inexperience, they are especially susceptible to distracted driving crashes," said Peter Kissinger, president of the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety. "At the same time, it is discouraging that cell phone usage picks up when drivers gain more experience, as using a phone can lead to dangerous distractions behind the wheel." <\/p>\n