One of the biggest perks of being a teenager is being able to drive. When a teenager begins to drive, they are happy and feel like they have more freedom. However, the dangers of teenage driving are higher than ever. According to the California Department of Motor Vehicles, “Vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for 15-20 year-olds” (“California”). Teenage drivers create many dangerous distractions when behind the wheel of a vehicle. These distractions usually occur in three different areas: visual, cognitive, and manual. The first major way a teenage driver may become distracted is by becoming visually distracted. Some teenage drivers can become distracted by other things happening outside of their vehicle. Whether it be looking …show more content…
When a teenage driver is manually distracted, it means that they are using their hands for something rather than steering the vehicle. Most teenagers today are more worried about Instagram, Snapchat, and texting their friends rather than paying attention to their driving. When a teenager’s phone rings, the teenager will more than likely answer it, no matter if they are driving or not. According to “Because Texting and Driving Kills,” “Five seconds is the minimum amount of time a teenager is distracted if texting and driving. At 55 miles per hour, the teenage driver travels the length of a football field without looking at the road” (“Because”). Some teenage drivers think that only texting is a distraction and talking on the phone isn’t. Those teenagers are sorely mistaken because according to The AAA Guide to Teen Driver Safety, “Talking on a cell phone can double the chance for an accident.” While teenagers may have their eyes on the road while talking on a phone, they do not however have their hands on the wheel. If a teenager is driving and needs talk on the phone or text someone back, the driver should pull over on the side of the road. Teenage drivers should always have their hands on the steering wheel of a car, no matter the