No parent will be surprised that most teens consider themselves to be good drivers, yet their behavior tells a different story. According to a new survey conducted by Erie Insurance, only about a third (34 percent) of respondents say their friends are good drivers and nearly all (97 percent) teens reported seeing other teens taking risks (speeding, not wearing seatbelts, etc.) while driving.
The survey was conducted this spring among 2,127 licensed drivers aged 16-19 years old.
Key findings include:
- Cell phone use among teens is high (76 percent regularly talk on a cell phone while driving).
- Text messaging while driving is common among teens (57 percent sometimes or often read or send text messages while driving).
- Most teens (93 percent) play loud music when they drive.
- Nearly half (48 percent) admit they're easily distracted when friends are passengers.
For more on teen driving, read:
10 Tips for Parents of Teenage Drivers
Giving Teens a Driving Edge
