According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), teen accidents not only cost people their lives, they also cost them money. Despite representing only 14% of the population, 16-19 year old male motorists account for $19 billion or 30% of motor vehicle injury total costs while females account for $7 billion or 28%. If that isn’t reason enough to frighten teenagers, this statistic will. Fatal accidents involving teens in 2013  often occurred between 3 pm (after school) and midnight as well as on Friday, Saturday or Sunday, when extracurricular activities and weekend socializing occur.

Distracted driving in Rhode Island involves any of the following activities while operating a motor vehicle:

Sending and Receiving Text Messages
Using a Cell Phone or Smartphone
Grooming
Talking to Passengers
Adjusting the Radio, CD Player or MP3 Player
Reading
Using a GPS
Eating and Drinking

Distraction.gov notes that text messaging is among the most dangerous things to do behind the wheel of a vehicle because it requires visual, manual, and cognitive attention from the driver. A record number of text messages sent by December 2013, alerted officials to how problematic texting and driving is. Drivers in the US including Puerto Rico, the Territories, and Guam sent over 153.3 billion text messages per month as of December 2013. The Official US Government Website for Distracted Driving reports that at any given daytime hour, about 660,000 drivers use cell phones or electronic devices while driving.

Preventing teen automobile accidents in RI and across the United States takes a village. It’s the responsibility of the driver to exercise good judgment and show excellent driving skill. It’s up to community, state, and national lawmakers responsible for enforcing laws to make sure that teenagers that break them receive the proper punishment for their poor judgment. States such as Rhode Island must enforce legal drinking age laws and zero blood-alcohol tolerance laws to prevent accident, injury, and death.

Younger motorists and passengers reduce their risk of injury and death by wearing a seat belt. Skill-building and driver supervision also helps a lot. The CDC reports that Graduated Driver Licensing Programs (GDL), which exists in all US states and Washington, DC, requires parent participation. In addition to helping their children learn how to drive, GDL also limits when a new motorist drives. He or she cannot operate a motor vehicle during high risk conditions and must practice longer before receiving driving privileges. The wait period ensures better driving skills and parent participation of law enforcement, too.

Legal Notice per Rules of Professional Responsibility: The Rhode Island Supreme Court licenses all lawyers and attorneys in the general practice of law, but does not license or certify any lawyer / attorney as an expert or specialist in any field of practice. While this firm maintains joint responsibility, most cases of this type are referred to other attorneys for principle responsibility.