CHP Grant to Reduce Teen Distracted Driving

The California Highway Patrol (CHP) recently issued a press release about a grant they received to help reduce teen distracted driving throughout the state. The grant, which they got from the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS), is aimed at raising awareness about safe driving behaviors for teens. The announcement of the Teen Distracted Driving (TDD) II grant was released during National Teen Driver Safety Week (October 16-22). 

According to the California Department of Motor Vehicles, there are nearly 792,970 licensed teen drivers in the State of California. That number represented a six-percent increase from the year prior. Additionally, in 2020, there were 6,644 fatal and injury-causing crashes involving teen drivers in California. This age group has the largest proportion of drivers who were distracted at the time of fatal crashes too.  

The Leading Cause of Death for U.S. Teens  

Car crashes are still the leading cause of death for teens in the U.S. In addition to inexperience behind the wheel, there are several factors that can impact a teen driver’s safety. One of the most dangerous factors that can increase the chance of a fatal or injury-causing crash is distracted driving. 

While most people know that distractions behind the wheel can involve texting or using a phone, they’re not limited to electronic devices. Distractions can be anything that takes a driver’s cognitive, manual or visual attention off of the task of driving. Distractions can include eating, drinking, changing the music or even chatting with peer passengers.  

Talk to Teen Drivers  

It’s not enough to just tell teens to put their phones down when they’re driving. Parents need to be setting the example too. Talking to teens about the rules of the road and checking in with them about safe driving practices are also good habits to get into. Most of the factors that increase the chances of a teen getting into a wreck are completely preventable, so parents are encouraged to open a dialogue.  

If you have been injured or if you have lost a loved one in a car accident caused by a distracted driver in San Diego or anywhere in Southern California, contact the skilled team at Harris Personal Injury Lawyers, Inc. at 1.800.GO.HARRIS for a free case consultation today.