Teen Texting While Driving: Parents Are Last Line of Defense

If you are a parent of a child old enough to own a cell phone or iPod, you probably have experienced the frustration of trying to get your child’s attention as they stare at their electronic device and type frantically with their thumbs.  You repeat yourself several times and finally give up knowing your child has disappeared into the teen world of texting.  Unfortunately, the teen obsession with texting goes from being frustrating to extremely dangerous when a teen driver continues this practice behind the wheel of the family car.  Car accidents remain the leading cause of fatalities for teenage drivers.

The problem is increasing with the growing danger of teen texting while driving.  The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) indicates that of teenagers who text as many as one in three indicates they have done so while driving.  If you have been seriously injured or have lost a loved one in a car accident in a Mississippi teen texting accident, you may be entitled to compensation for your loss.  Our experienced Mississippi auto accident law firm can provide an initial evaluation of your case.

Teen drivers who are involved in texting while driving are distracted mentally, physically and visually.  According to the NHTSA, distracted driving accounts for 16 percent of all car accident fatalities and 20 percent of all auto accident related injuries.  A serious motor vehicle accident is often the result of being only slightly delayed in responding to a road hazard that requires one to brake or swerve.  Texting while driving may distract a driver’s attention from the road for as long as five seconds at a time.  A study conducted by the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute study found texting while driving increases the risk of being involved in a car crash as much as 23 times.

Texting and driving is rapidly becoming one of the most dangerous distracted driving practices.  Teenagers who text and drive increase the risk inherent in texting while driving because of their inexperience.  Mississippi legislators recognize this increased risk and have passed legislation prohibiting texting while driving by inexperienced teen drivers.  A recent survey of teenagers revealed that even legislation and education aimed at helping teenagers understand the risk associated with texting while driving does not seem to be making significant progress.  The survey revealed that while 84 percent of teens were aware of the danger posed by distracted driving 86 percent of teens admit to engaging in such behavior.

Some parents are taking proactive measures to protect their children from being involved in a serious texting while driving accident.  Some parents monitor their children’s phone use and compare records of cell phone use with times a teenager is driving.  A number of parents are even having technology installed in their vehicle that will disable a cell phone when the car is moving.  We can only hope that as parents become more proactive, these steps will succeed where Mississippi’s anti-texting law and public service campaigns have been less than an enthusiastic success.  Distracted driving accidents related to texting while driving will continue to cause catastrophic injuries and fatalities.  Our experienced Mississippi distracted driving attorneys represent clients throughout the state who are involved in serious motor vehicle accidents.  If you have been injured or loved one has been killed, our experienced Mississippi car accident attorneys will advise you of your rights and provide an initial case evaluation.

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Impact of Graduated Driver’s License Programs on Teen Auto Accident Rates in Mississippi

Car accident rates among teen drivers in southern states rank is among the highest in the country. The State of Mississippi is no exception.  It is one of the top ten states in the nation with regard to the number of teen related auto accidents.  Mississippi officials blame various reasons for the high rate of teen accidents including lenient enforcement of speeding and alcohol laws as well as tree-lined streets and inadequate seat belt laws.

In an effort to reduce its teen auto accident rate, Mississippi closely monitors its Graduated Driver Licensing Program (GDL). The GDL applies to teens ages 15-16. In order to drive an automobile, 15 year olds must have a valid learner’s permit and they must be accompanied by a parent, legal guardian, driver instructor or a person that is 21 years of age or older with a valid driver’s license at all times. The designated driver also must occupy the seat next to the driver at all times.

The next step for a Mississippi teen taking part in the GDL system is to obtain an intermediate license. A teenager must be 15 ½ years old to obtain this intermediate or “Class Y” license. The teen must also hold the intermediate license for 6 months. Additionally, according to the intermediate licensing rules, a teen can drive unsupervised only between the hours of 6 a.m. and 10 p.m.

To obtain a learner license, teens must provide the following documentation to the Mississippi Department of Motor Vehicles:

•    Social security card
•    Proof of identity
•    Certified copy of birth certificate
•    Proof of residence
•    Proof of school enrollment
•    Signature of parent or legal guardian on the application
•    $4 Learner’s Permit fee

In addition, a teenager must pass a written exam and vision test. The same documentation is required to obtain an intermediate license as well as a $6 fee.

To obtain an unrestricted driver’s license, a teenager must be 16 years of age and have held an intermediate license for a minimum of 6 months with a clean record. In addition to the documentation above, the teenager must provide proof of graduation or enrollment in a public, private, or home school or a GED. For a teenager 17 or older, the teen must have been issued a permit, but the intermediate license is not required.

According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, evaluations of GDL programs have been strongly positive, with auto accident reductions generally in the 20-40 percent range.  Studies have also shown that graduated driver licensing programs reduced overall car accident fatalities among 15-17 year olds by 5.6 percent or 131 teen deaths per year. However, more rigorous graduated driver licensing programs or “good” programs were more effective in reducing fatalities by 19.2 percent.  Mississippi’s GDL program has been described as “fair” in that it has been shown to reduce overall teen traffic fatalities by 5.8 percent per year. However, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety states that more studies are needed of the effects of driving permit policies in general, in particular the amount of delay that is generated as well as the overall effects.

At Barrett Law, PLLC, our Mississippi accident lawyers have been representing residents in Lexington and throughout Mississippi in serious motor vehicle accidents for over 75 years.  We offer a free initial case evaluation so that we can assess your case and advise you of your rights so contact us today at (662) 834-2376.

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