LANSING, MI -- More than 25 percent of teens say they read or send at least one text message every time they drive, but only one percent of parents think their teenage children do so, according to a new study from the University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute.
The national study, sponsored by the Toyota Motor Corporation, involved telephone surveys of more than 5,500 young drivers and parents -- including 400 family pairs -- pointing to a significant divide between parental awareness and teen behavior.
But the survey results also highlighted the importance of parental expectations, suggesting that teen drivers are less likely to engage in distracted driving behaviors that they think their parents would avoid.
If a teen thinks that his or her parent eats or drinks while driving, for example, that teen is three times more likely eat or drink while driving than their peers who do not think their parents do so, according to the study.
"Driver education begins the day a child's car seat is turned around to face front," said Dr. Tina Sayer, principal engineer of Toyota's Collaborative Safety Research Center in Ann Arbor. "As the study shows, the actions parents take and, by extension, the expectations they set for young drivers each day are powerful factors in encouraging safe behavior behind the wheel.
"Seat belts and good defensive driving skills are critical. However, the one piece of advice I would give to parents to help them keep newly licensed drivers safe on the road it is to always be the driver you want your teen to be."
The study suggests parents aren't always the best role models, especially when it comes to cell phone use and text messaging, the latter of which is illegal here in Michigan. Among the findings:
• Cell phone use: 54 percent of teens surveyed said they use a hand-held cell phone while driving, while 61 percent of parents reported that they do so
• Sending texts: 24 percent of teens admitted that they respond to at least one text message every time they drive, compared to only 9 percent of parents
• Reading texts: 30 percent of teens said they read at least one text or email every time they drive, while 13 percent of parents said they do so
• Text conversations: 20 percent of teens admitted that they engage in extended and multi-message text conversations while driving, compared to 10 percent of parents
• Music and social media: 53 percent of teens say they search for music on a digital player, such as an iPod, while driving, and 11 percent said they update or check social media sites, such as Facebook or Twitter.
More than 3,000 people were killed in crashes involving a distracted driver in 2010, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation, and an estimated 416,00 people were injured.
A recent MLive Media Group investigation of Michigan crash records indicated that young drivers on cellphones are far more likely to be involved in crashes than older drivers.
Parents or teens interested in learning more about distracted driving can find more statistics and prevention tips on distraction.gov, the federal government's official website, or the Toyota Teen Driver site.
Jonathan Oosting is a reporter for MLive Media Group's statewide news team. Email him at email@example.com.