Teen Drivers Are On Their Phones 21% Of The Time, New Study Shows—And They Admit To Knowing Better
Key Takeaways
Teenagers are admitting to being on the phone behind the wheel—and they aren’t just texting.
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business news
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July 3, 2025
10:18 AM
Forbes
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Teen Drivers Are On Their Phones 21% Of The Time, New Study Shows—And They Admit To Knowing BetterByMary Whitfill Roeloffs, Forbes Staff
Mary Roeloffs is a Forbes news reporter covering pop culture
AuthorJul 03, 2025, 10:18am EDTToplineTeenage drivers have admitted to looking at their cell phones one-fifth of the time when they're behind the wheel, most commonly to be entertained, text or a map, a new study published in the Traffic Injury Prevention journal shows
A driver uses a phone while behind the wheel of a car
Getty ImagesKey FactsA survey of more than 1,100 teens from across the country saw participants admit to spending an average of 21% of each trip using their phones while driving
Of those instances, more than a quarter lasted two seconds or longer, participants reported, which significantly increases the risk of a crash or near crash, according to a 2014 study
Teens said driving distracted allows them to be entertained or ductive while on the road, and that they're more ly to use their phones behind the wheel when they haven't gotten enough sleep
Most participants said they understand that distracted driving is dangerous and that their parents would rather they not, but they said their friends are also using their phones behind the wheel
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That's how many people were killed in crashes involving distracted drivers between the ages of 15 and 19 in 2022, according to the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia's Teen Driver Source
Key BackgroundDistracted driving was blamed for the deaths of 3,275 people in 2023— 9 deaths per day on average—according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
All but one state, Montana, has legally banned texting while behind the wheel for all drivers and, as of December, 35 states have illegalized all types of phone use among young drivers
Despite the restrictions, one 2023 poll found that while 97% of teen drivers agree texting and driving is dangerous, 43% admitted to doing it anyway
Further ReadingForbesTeens Teaming With Teens To Create A Better WorldBy Kate VitasekForbesAmerican Teens Experience Enormous Pressures Related To Mental Health, New Study FindsBy Omer AwanGot a tip
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