DWD Driving While Distracted Tech Age Kids Sound Alert

The results of a new “distracted driving” study conducted by New Jersey auto insurance group, Plymouth Rock Assurance has been released on the heels of a recent New Jersey court ruling finding that the sender of text messages, who knows that the recipient is driving and texting, may be held responsible for distraction and liable for the accident. It turns out parents are not setting the best example for their kids.

The study provides distracted driving insights from Digital Natives, the first generation born into a digital world. Recognizing the dangers and citing texting while driving as one of the biggest safety problems on New Jersey’s roads today, the online poll of 1,000 New Jersey-based drivers ages 17 – 25 found that:

• 57% witnessed a parent using a phone without hands-free technology.

• 25% have witnessed a parent texting while driving – mimicking the behavior.

• 73% witnessed a friend texting while driving.

• 70% witnessed a friend using a phone without hands-free technology.

• 36% attempted to alert the driver of another car to stop texting.

• 82% believe the State of New Jersey should impose a heavy penalty for texting while driving – indicating the need for enforcement.

The online poll found that, despite these stats , young drivers recognized the danger and cited texting while driving as one of the biggest safety problems on New Jersey’s roads. Texting while driving has surpassed both drunk driving and aggressive driving as dangerous behaviors and young drivers have indicated that they do not approve; 36 percent have attempted to alert the driver of another car to stop texting and 82 percent of respondents believe the State of New Jersey should impose a heavy penalty for texting while driving – indicating the need for enforcement.

“Distracted driving is one of the most dangerous issues currently affecting our roadways,” said Gerry Wilson, President and CEO of Plymouth Rock Management Company of New Jersey. “Years ago, motorists demanded an end to drunk driving. Our research demonstrates that even younger drivers are acknowledging that we must put an end to distracted driving,” he added.

Plymouth Rock Assurance is committed to making New Jersey’s roads a safer place by exposing the dangers of distracted driving. The company is rallying New Jersey drivers to fight back against irresponsible driving practices and will attempt to set a new GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS® title for the Most Pledges to a Safety Campaign. The initiative will kick-off with an event on Saturday, September 21, at Six Flags Great Adventure in Jackson. Drivers interested in signing the pledge and helping to set a new GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS® can do so by visiting www.FightDistracted Driving.com.

Plymouth Rock Assurance is a marketing name used by a group of separate companies that write and manage property and casualty insurance in multiple states. Insurance in New Jersey is offered by Plymouth Rock Management Company of New Jersey on behalf of High Point Property and Casualty Insurance Company, Teachers Auto Insurance Company of New Jersey, Palisades Safety and Insurance Association, and their affiliates. Each company is financially responsible only for its own insurance products. Here are some highlights.

About this Study

“Digital Natives” are people who have been born into the technology age and cannot conceive of generations past who lived without computers, the Internet, cell phones and the variety of mobile devices that exist today. The portability of technology has raised rapidly growing safety concerns on our roadways; so much so that states are enacting laws to curb the use of mobile devices while driving. Currently New Jersey prohibits the following:

• Text messaging and use of video games while driving. • School bus operators using cell phones while driving.

• Drivers under the age of 21 with learner’s permits or probationary licenses from all cell phone use, texting devices and other hand-held or hands-free wireless electronic devices while driving (includes iPods).

On April 29, 2013, “Nikki’s Law” was passed by the New Jersey Assembly, requiring “appropriate signage” and variable message signs to warn against distracted driving. On August 14, 2013 Governor Chris Christie signed the legislation. Texting while driving has also been the substance of civil litigation. A couple riding a motorcycle was severely injured after being struck by a teenage motorist who had been exchanging texts with his girlfriend in Morris County in 2009. The couple sued the teenage driver’s girlfriend. The New Jersey Appellate court upheld a lower court ruling dismissing the lawsuit, stating the opinion that someone who texts a motorist is not liable for the driver’s negligent actions. However, the texter has a duty to refrain if the person knows the recipient is driving and likely to read the message.

The Three Biggest Safety Problems on New Jersey Roads Standing out above all other potential hazards, Digital Natives see texting while driving (83%) as the most serious problem on New Jersey roadways today. More than six in 10 (66%) perceived drunk driving to be the second biggest problem and less than half (48%) believed aggressive driving to be the third most serious driving issue. Only three in 10 (31%) believed that making calls while driving without using a hands-free device was a distracted driving problem. Obeying traffic laws (23%) was perceived as a more serious safety concern than road surfaces (16%) and browsing the Internet (11%). Recent news items have discussed the influence on driver attention to the road of phone calls while driving with hands-free technology yet only 3% saw this as a problem (Table 1).

Digital Natives & Driving Distracted

Six in ten (61%) Digital Natives in this study admitted to sending a text message while driving. The number of youthful drivers participating in this study who are texting as they drive raises important considerations regarding the key influencers of this dangerous behavior. Are Digital Natives influenced merely by the rapidly advancing developments of mobile technology which offers choices in how and when they communicate? Is the use of mobile technology second nature to the extent that no thought is put into the risks inherent in texting while driving? What social influences exist? Are people in the everyday lives of Digital Natives influencing their behavior?

According to the United States Census, Digital Natives are living at home longer than preceding generations. In New Jersey, one in four people between the ages of 18 and 31 are living with parents. Thus, interactions with their parents are more commonplace than peers living independently; including riding as a passenger of their cars.

Learned Behavior?

It appears that Digital Natives who admit to texting also have witnessed their parents, friends and even friends’ parents sending text messages while driving at a higher rate than total respondents and non-texters.

Parents

Three in 10 (30%) of those who text and drive say they have seen their parents do the same. One in four (25%) of total respondents reported seeing parents text and drive as did 18% of non-texters (Figure 2).

With Digital Natives living with their parents, it is reasonable to expect that there are occasions of riding as a passenger in their cars. Other factors, then, may be contributing to Digital Natives’ driving distracted. For example, 25% of total respondents, 19% of non-texters and 29% of texters have witnessed parents groom themselves while driving (e.g. apply makeup, comb/brush hair, shaving). Further, more than four (42%) in ten texters have been in the car with a parent driving aggressively and 66% say they have driven as a passenger with a parent who made a call without using a hands-free device (Table 2).

Friends

If Digital Natives are witnessing their parents’ distracted driving behavior, then they are seeing their friends do so at a higher rate. Six in ten (61%) of all respondents, more than half (51%) of non-texters and nearly nine in 10 texters (86%) have been with a friend who has texted while driving (Figure 3). Digital Natives also have friends that tend to be aggressive drivers. Six in ten (61%) of total respondents indicate that they have been in the car of friend driving aggressively. More than half of texters (55%) have friends who groom themselves as they drive. Texters also have witnessed nearly three times as many friends driving drunk (35%) as non-texters (13%) driving under the same circumstances (Figure 3).

Safe Driving

Speed is a critical factor in any crash situation and speeding is often a contributing factor in serious accidents. Driving within the speed limit can affect the risk of crash involvement as well as the severity of crashes. Distracted driving and speeding has the potential for deadly consequences. This study indicates that it is more common for texters to exceed the speed limit than other Digital Natives. Less than half (46%) say they regularly drive the speed limit compared to 73% of non-texters who indicate that they conform to speed limits (Figure 5).

Deterrents & Solutions

Many Digital Natives are concerned about their safety on New Jersey roadways. More than one in three (36%) have attempted to alert other drivers to stop texting while driving. The question remains, “Is there a deterrent?” We asked Digital Natives what New Jersey should do and they suggest the state save drivers from themselves. Most (82%) say the state should impose a significant fine (Figure 7).

Apart from a fine, is it possible to influence Digital Natives to be safer, more responsible drivers? According to study respondents the two most influential factors are negative. The most frequent responses were experiencing an accident while riding in the passenger seat (71%); an increase in insurance rates was rated next; slightly higher (66%) than safe driver insurance premium discounts (62%). Other accident experiences; witnessing an accident while driving (61%), a friend or family member having an accident (60%) and a near-miss (52%), all seem to have less influence on safer driving. Paradoxically, a citation for a traffic violation (44%) was least impactful