New study highlights dangers of cellphone use among teen drivers

The survey found that teens who used their cell phones while driving were significantly more likely to engage in risky driving behaviors, such as harsh braking and rapid acceleration. These behaviors can increase the risk of accidents and injuries.

“This study provides additional evidence of the dangers of cell phone use while driving,” said lead author Catherine C. McDonald, PhD, RN, FAAN, Dr. Hildegarde Reynolds Professor of Nursing. primary care; Professor of Nursing; chair of the Department of Family and Community Health at Penn Nursing; and co-director of the Penn Injury Science Center. “It is crucial that teens and their parents are aware of the risks and take steps to avoid using their phones while driving.”

Researchers used a smartphone telematics app to track the driving habits of 119 teenage drivers over a 60-day period. These teenagers had held a license for less than a year. They analyzed data on travel characteristics, speeding, cell phone use and risky driving events. The study found that more than a third of journeys were made using mobile phones and speeding occurred in more than 40% of journeys. Cell phone use and excessive speed were also associated with kinematic risky driving events.

“Smartphone telematics applications provide a valuable tool for studying driving behavior and developing interventions to improve safety,” McDonald said. “By identifying risky behaviors, we can develop targeted interventions to help adolescents become safer drivers.”

Researchers recommend that teens and their parents develop strategies to avoid using cell phones while driving, such as putting their phones out of reach or using hands-free devices. They also encourage parents to talk to their teens about the dangers of distracted driving and to set a good example by avoiding cell phone use while driving themselves.

The research was supported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention under award number: R49CE003083. Co-authors include: Kevin Rix, PhD, MPH, Department of Health Promotion and Behavioral Sciences, University of Texas Health Houston; Jeffrey P. Ebert, PhD, Penn Medicine Nudge Unit and Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine; Subhash Aryal, PhD, Faculty of Nursing, Johns Hopkins School of Nursing; Ruiying Xiong, MS, Department of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine; Douglas J. Wiebe, PhD, University of Michigan; and M. Kit Delgado, MD, MS, Penn Medicine Nudge Unit and Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine.