by Rich Johnson, wtop.com
WASHINGTON — New research suggests that teens feel pressure to stay connected, especially with their parents, even if that leads to risky behavior while behind the wheel.
Survey results released Tuesday by Liberty Mutual Insurance and Students Against Destructive Decisions indicate that nearly half of teens report texting more when alone in the car — most often to update their parents.
Teens say their parents expect near-immediate replies to their text messages, even if they are driving. And 55 percent of teens report texting while driving in order to update their parents.
However, among parents surveyed, 58 percent say they don’t expect an immediate response, which Liberty Mutual and SADD says demonstrates a need for parents to talk with their teens about driving and their cellphone habits.
Other findings of the survey:
- 37 percent report texting to confirm or coordinate event details — another sign of their strong desire to stay connected.
- 34 percent say they take their eyes off the road when app notifications come in while driving.
- 88 percent of teens who consider themselves “safe” drivers report using phone apps on the road. The most popular apps include Snapchat, Instagram and Twitter.
- 56 percent say they’ve fallen asleep or nearly fallen asleep at the wheel. Among the reasons they cite: a schedule filled with extracurricular activity, staying up late to finish homework, working late hours during the week, and being tired or hung over from partying the night before.
The study surveyed more than 1,600 high school juniors and seniors here in Washington and in Chicago last fall. It has a 2.23 percent margin of error. It also questioned 1,000 parents of high school-age drivers, with a 2.94 percent margin of error.
