Two-Time Olympic Gold Medalist Gabby Douglas Encourages Northridge Academy High School Students to Drive Distraction Free!
Mercedes-Benz Driving Academy partnered with
two-time Olympic gold medalist Gabby Douglas to help kick-off National
Teen Driver Safety Week activities and raise awareness around teen
driver safety. Douglas, 17, currently has her driver's permit and is
enrolling in the Mercedes-Benz Driving Academy driver education and
training programs. "I'm taking my driving lessons as seriously as my
Olympic training," said Douglas. "I know that it will take a lot of
practice behind-the-wheel, especially driving in big cities. I also feel
strongly about encouraging my friends and family to not text and
drive." According to a recent report, 18- and 19- year-old driver fatal crash rates are higher in California
and nationally after Graduated Driver License (GDL) programs were
enacted. One explanation is that teens are simply waiting until they are
18 years old when the GDL no longer applies to them.Start Earning Your License with California Teen Drivers Ed Online
- In 2011, 3,331 people were killed in crashes involving a distracted driver, compared to 3,267 in 2010. An additional, 387,000 people were injured in motor vehicle crashes involving a distracted driver, compared to 416,000 injured in 2010.
- 10% of injury crashes in 2011 were reported as distraction-affected crashes.
- As of December 2012, 171.3 billion text messages were sent in the US (includes PR, the Territories, and Guam) every month. (CTIA)
- 11% of all drivers under the age of 20 involved in fatal crashes were reported as distracted at the time of the crash. This age group has the largest proportion of drivers who were distracted.
- For drivers 15-19 years old involved in fatal crashes, 21 percent of
the distracted drivers were distracted by the use of cell phones (NHTSA)
- At any given daylight moment across America, approximately 660,000
drivers are using cell phones or manipulating electronic devices while
driving, a number that has held steady since 2010. (NOPUS)
- Engaging in visual-manual subtasks (such as reaching for a phone,
dialing and texting) associated with the use of hand-held phones and
other portable devices increased the risk of getting into a crash by
three times. (VTTI)
- Sending or receiving a text takes a driver's eyes from the road for
an average of 4.6 seconds, the equivalent-at 55 mph-of driving the
length of an entire football field, blind. (VTTI)
- Headset cell phone use is not substantially safer than hand-held use. (VTTI)
- A quarter of teens respond to a text message once or more every time they drive. 20 percent of teens and 10 percent of parents admit that they have extended, multi-message text conversations while driving. (UMTRI)
Distracted driving is any activity that could divert a person's attention away from the primary task of driving. All distractions endanger driver, passenger, and bystander safety.
- Headset cell phone use is not substantially safer than hand-held use. (VTTI)
- Sending or receiving a text takes a driver's eyes from the road for
an average of 4.6 seconds, the equivalent-at 55 mph-of driving the
length of an entire football field, blind. (VTTI)
- Engaging in visual-manual subtasks (such as reaching for a phone,
dialing and texting) associated with the use of hand-held phones and
other portable devices increased the risk of getting into a crash by
three times. (VTTI)
- At any given daylight moment across America, approximately 660,000
drivers are using cell phones or manipulating electronic devices while
driving, a number that has held steady since 2010. (NOPUS)