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Youth

Teen Drivers' Alarming Near-Miss Statistics Highlight Distracted and Dangerous Behaviors

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

According to the 2011 Liberty Mutual/SADD teen driving study, a significant number of young drivers have had "near misses" while driving, with 68 percent of teens admitting to such incidents and more than half of those (56 percent) reporting multiple instances. These findings are particularly concerning, as young drivers often attribute near-misses to external causes rather than taking personal responsibility. However, further analysis reveals a disturbing trend of distracted and dangerous behaviors behind the wheel, including speeding, texting while driving, talking to passengers, and engaging in other reckless activities.

Key Takeaways:

  • 68 percent of teens have had "near misses" while driving, with 56 percent reporting multiple instances.
  • Among those who have had near-misses, 34 percent blame another driver, while 21 percent cite weather conditions as the primary cause.
  • When asked about their behavior at the time of the incident, teens admitted to:

+ Speeding: 30 percent

+ Texting while driving: 21 percent

+ Talking to passengers: 20 percent

+ Changing songs on their MP3 player: 17 percent

  • Only 9 percent of teens believed excessive speed was the primary contributor to near-misses, while 13 percent said texting while driving was to blame.
  • Teens who have had near-misses are more likely to engage in distracted and dangerous driving behaviors on a regular basis.
  • Despite this, 92 percent of teens consider themselves to be safe and cautious drivers.

Statistics:

  • 34 percent of young drivers who have had near-misses blame another driver, while 21 percent cite weather conditions.
  • 30 percent of teens who have had near-misses admitted to speeding, while 21 percent reported texting while driving.
  • The highest number of driving fatalities occurs in the summer months.
  • Thirteen percent of teens believed texting while driving was a primary contributor to near-misses.
  • Six percent of teens said their own passengers distracted them, contributing to near-misses.

Sources:

  • Liberty Mutual Insurance
  • SADD (Students Against Destructive Decisions)
  • Liberty Mutual/SADD teen driving study (2011)
  • Liberty Mutual Group: libertymutualgroup.com
  • SADD: sadd.org

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