Despite Knowing Dangers, More Than Half of Richmond Teens Admit to Texting While Driving

    RICHMOND, VA, July 24, 2015 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Nine out of 10 Richmond teens say they know texting while driving is dangerous and illegal in Virginia, yet more than half (58 percent) admit to doing it.

Personal injury law firm Marks & Harrison conducted the online survey of 238 area high school students with assistance from researcher Sara Richter of the Park Nicollet Institute to increase awareness about the dangers of teen texting and driving.

Among teens who text and drive, 40 percent reveal they do so under higher-risk driving conditions, likely due to a perception they are better multi-taskers.

The findings are troublesome considering that, according to CDC data, more than nine people die each day in the United States due to distracted driving.

"After years of public awareness campaigns, distracted driving remains a deadly threat on Virginia's roads and across the country," said Joel McClellan, Marks & Harrison attorney. "You not only endanger yourself when you engage in activities like texting and talking while driving, but you also put other drivers at risk."

According to a 2009 report by the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute, text messaging is associated with the highest risk of danger of all sources of distraction, increasing a driver's crash risk by 23 times compared to drivers not using a phone.

The Marks & Harrison study also sheds light on the important role parents play in educating their teens on the dangers of texting and driving. Teens who had a discussion with their parents about the topic were 18 percent less likely to engage in texting and driving.

Survey data, methodology and tips for discussing the dangers of texting and driving with teens are available on the Firm's website and at www.drivealiverichmond.com.

About the Researcher

Sara Richter, M.S., a Senior Statistician at Park Nicollet Institute, analyzed and reported on the survey data for the study. Richter has experience providing statistical support to clinician investigators on clinical trials and health services research projects. She has co-authored numerous peer-reviewed publications and presentations. She received her B.A. in Mathematics and Economics with Mathematical and Statistical Distinction from St. Olaf College in May 2005 and her M.S. in Statistics from the University of Minnesota in July 2007.

The study of 238 Richmond high school students was conducted in March 2015 via SurveyMonkey.

About Marks & Harrison

Marks & Harrison has been serving clients in Virginia since 1911. The firm limits its practice to personal injury, workers' compensation and social security disability matters. Marks & Harrison has eight offices in Virginia located in Richmond, Fredericksburg, Hopewell, Charlottesville, Louisa, Staunton, Petersburg and Tappahannock. For more information about Marks & Harrison visit: http://www.marksandharrison.com/about-us/ or call 888-705- 4614.

# # #