Distracted driving is a major problem among teen drivers. All told, more than 20 percent of North Carolina auto accidents are caused by distracted drivers. Young people's inexperience behind the wheel puts them at particular risk for causing a crash.

The North Carolina Department of Transportation is working to raise awareness of the dangers of distracted driving by airing "Just Drive" videos in 72 movie theaters across the state.

The videos show images of wrecked vehicles with captions describing how the accident happened. Some of the captions include "texting a joke," "changing a CD," and "'liking' a picture."

The videos are being played before PG-13 and R rated movies in an attempt to target drivers between the ages of 16 and 25. In addition, the videos are being distributed through social media outlets.

Parents Need to Do Their Part, Too

Although the videos are a step in the right direction, they cannot completely change teens' attitudes toward distracted driving. Young people need to hear a message many times for it to finally sink in.

Parents can help prevent car accidents by talking with their teens about the dangers of distracted driving. The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration has provided some facts to help get the conversation started. For example:

  • Using a cellphone while driving damages reaction time as much as having a 0.08 blood alcohol level
  • Drivers who text behind the wheel are 23 times more likely to cause an accident
  • Sending a text while driving on the highway takes your eyes off the road for a distance equivalent to the length of an entire football field
  • Talking on a cellphone - even using a hands-free device - deprives drivers of 39% of the brain power they would have otherwise used to focus on the road.


We all share a duty to help North Carolina's young people become responsible drivers. Start the conversation, and you could help save a life.

Source: WFMY News, "NCDOT Targeting Young Drivers With New PSA," Marc DeRoberts, Jan. 24, 2012.