Distracted Driving

There are laws against it, but 26% of American teens of driving age say they have texted while driving, and nearly half of all teens ages 12 to 17 say they’ve been a passenger while a driver has texted behind the wheel, according to a recent report.

There are laws against it, but 26% of American teens of driving age say they have texted while driving, and nearly half of all teens ages 12 to 17 say they’ve been a passenger while a driver has texted behind the wheel, according to a recent report from the Pew Research Center’s Internet & American Life Project.

“Many teens understand the risks of texting behind the wheel,” said Amanda Lenhart, co-author of the report, “but the desire to stay connected is so strong for teens and their parents that safety sometimes takes a backseat to staying in touch with friends and family.”

Boys and girls are equally likely to report texting behind the wheel as well as riding with texting drivers.

Teens need to keep their eyes on the road, and they should remember some sage advice from Psalm 119: “Open my eyes to see clearly the wonders of your teachings” (v. 18) whether they’re behind the wheel or not.