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NEWS RELEASE Oct. 2, 2012 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact Information: Natasha Greendyk, Communications Coordinator Mobile: (704) 516-1531 E-mail: Greendyknv@appstate.edu

NEW STUDY SHOWS COMMON DRIVER DISTRACTIONS AMONG TEENAGERS A research that goes beyond the cell phone distraction

CHAPEL HILLA frequent use of electronic devices while driving on top of many other actions have been revealed as a distraction behavior, according to results of a study conducted by the UNC Highway Safety Research Center released Sept. 25, 2012. More effective interventions can be created when an origin of conflict can be pinpointed. The studys purpose was to find a preventative method to distraction among teenage drivers. To study common distractive behaviors, the research center examined 52 high schools students, 69 percent female and 31 percent male, while driving. In order to get a more educated understanding on driving distractions found in the youth, the majority, 63 percent, of the student drivers were only 16 years. Much of the research on distracted driving has concentrated on adults. By contrast, -more-

Copyrighted material was utilized in this class assignment under Fair Use Section 107 of the U.S. Copyright Law.

relatively little is known about distracted driving among teenagers, said Stephanie Harrell, one of the study authors. Young drivers are among the strongest users of cell phones, and they tend to be early adopters and aggressive users of new technology, Harrell said. Nearly twice as many, 4.3 percent versus 2.3 percent, were suspected of operating an electronic device than were observed holding a cell phone to their ear, according to the study. Other behaviors and actions such as horseplay were identified as distractions for teenagers. Excluding the use of electronic devices, the most common behavior identified was adjusting the controls of the vehicle. The study describes how distractions vary based on the presence of passengers, time of day, sex of the driver, and other potentially important factors, said Robert Foss, Senior Research Scientist and Director of the Center for the Study of Young Drivers. Loud conversations were 12.2 percent of the passenger distraction results with little to no difference between female and male drivers. By gaining a better understanding of the frequency and nature of distracted driver behaviors and distracting conditions, more effective interventions can be developed, Foss said. For over 40 years, the University of North Carolina Highway Safety Research Center has been a leading research institute that has helped shape the field of transportation safety. The Centers mission is to improve the safety, security, access and efficiency of all surface transportation modes through a balanced, interdisciplinary program of research, evaluation and information dissemination. -###-

Copyrighted material was utilized in this class assignment under Fair Use Section 107 of the U.S. Copyright Law.