9.4 Distractions and Young Drivers

There are few things more exciting to a teenager than getting their driver’s license. Teen driving, however, is very dangerous. The leading cause of death for 15-20 year olds drivers and passengers are vehicle crashes. Additionally, vehicle crashes make up approximately one-third of all deaths for this age group. Statistics also show that more crashes occur when passengers, usually other teens, are in the vehicle with a teen driver.

These statistics are caused by a teenager’s immaturity, driving inexperience, overconfidence, and risk-taking behaviors. Before your teen takes to the road, explain to him or her the dangers of participating in distracting activities and driving. Many teens do not see the connection between the things that distract them and their age group’s high rate of vehicle crashes and death.

Give your teen strategies and rules to help them keep their passengers under control. Teach them that under no circumstances should they even engage in horseplay, speeding, or any other type of dangerous activity while riding in a vehicle. Help them to develop the strength to refuse to drive friends who will not obey their rules in the car, for their own safety at least, if not for their passengers.

Instruct your teen to set up his or her vehicle radio, CD player, IPOD, or any other in-vehicle music-playing device before driving. Instruct them to play the music at a listening level that is not distracting. Also, remind them that wearing headphones or earplugs is illegal in California, regardless of the age of a driver.

Talk with your teen about how to deal with driving distractions. Discuss what could happen if he or she tries to answer a cell phone, send a text message, search for music, or spill a drink on themselves while they are driving. Explain the importance of driving safely and staying alive.

Teen Drivers

23124. (a) This section applies to a person under the age of 18 years.

(b) Notwithstanding Sections 23123 and 23123.5, a person described in subdivision (a) shall not drive a motor vehicle while using a wireless telephone or an electronic wireless communications device, even if equipped with a hands-free device.

(c) A violation of this section is an infraction punishable by a base fine of twenty dollars ($20) for a first offense and fifty dollars ($50) for each subsequent offense.

(d) A law enforcement officer shall not stop a vehicle for the sole purpose of determining whether the driver is violating subdivision (b).

(e) Subdivision (d) does not prohibit a law enforcement officer from stopping a vehicle for a violation of Section 23123 or 23123.5.

(f) This section does not apply to a person using a wireless telephone or a mobile service device for emergency purposes, including, but not limited to, an emergency call to a law enforcement agency, health care provider, fire department, or other emergency services agency or entity.

(g) For the purposes of this section, “electronic wireless communications device” includes, but is not limited to, a broadband personal communication device, specialized mobile radio device, handheld device or laptop computer with mobile data access, pager, and two-way messaging device.