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Citation |
Heck KE, Carlos RM. J. Saf. Res. 2008; 39(4): 437-443. |
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Affiliation |
Department of Human and Community Development, 4-H Center for Youth Development, University of California, Davis, 1 Shields Ave., Davis, CA 95616, USA. |
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Copyright |
(Copyright © 2008, U.S. National Safety Council, Publisher Elsevier Publishing) |
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DOI |
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PMID |
18786432 |
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Abstract |
PROBLEM: Adolescents who drive with peers are known to have a higher risk of crashes. While passengers may distract drivers, little is known about the circumstances of these distractions among teen drivers. METHOD: This study used survey data on driving among 2,144 California high school seniors to examine distractions caused by passengers. RESULTS: Overall, 38.4% of youths who drove reported having been distracted by a passenger. Distractions were more commonly reported among girls and students attending moderate- to high-income schools. Talking or yelling was the most commonly reported type of distraction. About 7.5% of distractions reported were deliberate, such as hitting or tickling the driver or attempting to use the vehicle's controls. Driving after alcohol use and having had a crash as a driver were both significant predictors of reporting passenger-related distraction. CONCLUSION: Adolescents often experience distractions related to passengers, and in some cases these distractions are intentional. IMPACT ON INDUSTRY: These results provide information about teenage drivers who are distracted by passenger behaviors. In some cases, passengers attempted to use vehicle controls; however, it seems unlikely that this behavior is common enough to warrant redesign of controls to make them less accessible to passengers. Language: en |