The perils of distracted driving are well known in Tennessee and elsewhere. It is also well known that inexperienced teenage drivers are at a higher risk for being involved in car accidents than drivers in other age groups generally. New information has revealed, however, that one of the greatest distractions teens face on the road is the presence of other teenagers.

Two independently conducted studies confirm this perhaps unsurprising reality. The first study was completed by researchers at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. It focused on teens who typically drive with more than one passenger in the car.

The study determined that this kind of teenage driver generally fits a risk-taking profile. In addition to being undereducated on the risks which accompany driving, these teens identify as thrill-seekers and do not perceive their parents as paying much attention to their whereabouts or enforcing strict rules.

The second study was conducted by State Farm Insurance and focused on the behavior of teen drivers who had been seriously injured in car accidents. Ultimately, the study concluded that teen drivers who had been driving with other teens in the car were more distracted than those who had been driving alone before they crashed.

In addition, the study highlighted that male teenage drivers were doubly likely to exhibit aggressive driving behavior with passengers in the car. They were also six times more likely to illegally maneuver their vehicles with passengers in the car.

Both studies illustrate that good modeling behavior from parents may make the difference in their teen's driving. A researcher at State Farm recently insisted that, "It's critical that parents stay involved in their teens' driving beyond the learner permit phase. This includes continuing to monitor their driving activities and to review ways teens can be safe drivers and passengers."

Source: Atlanta Journal-Constitution, "Risky business: teens driving with other teens," Joel Provano, Jan. 24, 2012