If you are or have ever been the parent of a teenager, you know that they need to learn things on their own. As parents, we can help guide them in the right direction, but it can be difficult to “tell” them what to do.
It is often more effective to give teens the information they need to make smart, informed decisions. That’s where the recent study comes in.
A large number of teenagers—900, to be exact—were given a questionnaire to measure their awareness of the dangers of distracted driving. This gave the researchers baseline data for the group. Next, the teens went through the program described below. Afterward, they took a post-questionnaire about distracted driving. The before and after results were then measured to determine the effectiveness of the program.
There were four sections in the program:
- a general introduction about the types of distracted driving and the risks it presents to teen drivers;
- a tour of a trauma center from the perspective of an injured patient;
- a video showing the numerous effects on the victim of a distracted driving crash; and
- a presentation by a survivor of a distracted driving crash, detailing the negative effects on the person’s life.
Guess what . . . the program worked! After going through the program, teens reported that they were much more likely not to make calls or text while driving. Those who said they would not make a call while driving jumped from 64 to 82 percent; those who reported they would not text while driving jumped from 69 to an amazing 92 percent.
What can parents take from this study? Reality-based programs that give teens the information they need to change their behavior can work. In this study, the researchers took great care to connect important information to the teens themselves.
As parents, we can seek out online or newspaper articles that discuss the effects of distracted driving on a real-life victim. We can watch TV shows with our kids that focus on the different types of distracted driving and how they affect teens, as the newest members of our driving population. And we can discuss these issues with our teens, keeping an open line of communication with them as they learn the boundaries of the safe use technology.
The San Francisco personal injury attorneys at Alexander Law Group, LLP are proud to help families impacted by the irresponsible actions of distracted drivers. We will fervently work with you to procure all possible monetary compensation. Our goal is to help our clients and their families receive proper compensation. You can reach one of our San Francisco personal injury attorneys at 888.777.1776. Alternatively, you can our online contact form and we will get back to you promptly.
