Allstate Insurance says Parent’s Distracted Driving Habits Influence Teens behind the Wheel

August 19, 2015 |

New report shows teens’ distracted driving not necessarily the problem after all

Nashville, TN – A new report from The Allstate Foundation unveiled some new information about teen driving habits. The report shows that not only are many parents unaware that their teens are speeding, driving distracted or while under the influence, they may be learning these habits directly from their parents.

The findings were released in The Foundation’s new Driving Change Report.

Among the key data:

• 23 percent of teens admit they’ve driven after drinking alcohol and/or using marijuana, but only 7 percent of parents believe their teens have driven under the influence.
• 79 percent of teens admit to speeding, but only 55 percent of parents believe their teens speed.
• 95 percent of teens admit to getting a moving violation; only 79 percent of parents believe their teens have committed an offense.
• 87 percent of teens admit to using cellphones while driving, but only 63 percent of parents say their teens use phones while driving.

The report also found that parents are engaged in some of the same risky behaviors as their teens:

• 88 percent of parents say they use their phones while driving, compared to 87 percent of teens.
• 84 percent of parents admit to speeding, compared to 79 percent of teens.

“Our teen safe driving program has contributed to a nearly 48 percent decline in teen crash fatalities since 2005,” said local Allstate agent, Steve Blume. “While there has been progress, we continue to encourage parents and teens to have an open dialogue about driving. It’s also important that parents ensure their teens are wearing their seatbelts, obeying speed limits and eliminating distractions, because these actions help to keep teens safer on the road.”

In 2013, 60 teens ages 13-19 died in car crashes in Tennessee. There are three key steps that parents can take to keep their teens safer on the road:

• Drive with their teen at least 30 minutes a week, especially in the first year after they are fully licensed.
• Get familiar with their state Graduated Driver Licensing laws. These laws can help them set their own rules of the road for their teen.
• Model good driving behavior on the road by putting away cellphones, buckling up and obeying speed limits.

For more information about Driving Change, visit http://TenYearsofDrivingChange.com.

About the Driving Change Report

The Allstate Foundation’s Driving Change online survey was conducted from January 9th to January 31st, 2015 by The Futures Company. A sample of 1,552 teens ages 15-19 and 1,535 parents of teens were interviewed. The sample was nationally representative by gender, geographical location, household income and ethnicity. Margin of error is +/- 1.8 percent, at a 95 percent confidence level.

The Allstate Foundation’s Driving Change Report marks the organization’s 10-year commitment to reducing teen car crash fatalities. The Foundation offers several resources for the public in English and Spanish, including a parent-teen driving agreement customized with state laws, a parent coaching guide and tip sheet, and educational videos. Parent resources and more information about the Driving Change Report are available at http://TenYearsofDrivingChange.com

About The Allstate Foundation

Established in 1952, The Allstate Foundation is an independent, charitable organization made possible by subsidiaries of The Allstate Corporation (NYSE: ALL). Through partnerships with nonprofit organizations across the country, The Allstate Foundation brings the relationships, reputation and resources of Allstate to support innovative and lasting solutions that enhance people’s well-being and prosperity.

With a focus on building financial independence for domestic violence survivors, empowering youth and celebrating the charitable community involvement of Allstate agency owners and employees, The Allstate Foundation works to bring out the good in people’s lives.

For more information, visit www.AllstateFoundation.org.

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