Peer Pressure Prevents Risky Teen Driving Habits [AUDIO]
Teen drivers are still texting behind the wheel when they're by themselves, but a new study says having friends in the car significantly reduces the dangerous habit.
The survey from Bridgestone Americas finds that, while 95 percent of teens text while driving alone, that number drops to 32 percent when they are with peers.
"I do feel guilty when I have passengers. I know when I am a passenger I will yell at them about texting while driving," says one teen driver.
Not surprisingly, parents act as major stop gap for the habit.
The study found only seven percent of teen drivers texted when their parents were with them. However, some teens note their parents are worse than they are when it comes to texting while on the road.
"My mom will do it while at a light and my dad will give it to me to do. But I yell at my mom, I'm tyrannical."
More than 90 percent of teens admitted to updating social networking sites while driving alone versus 29 percent that updated the sites when with friends.
Watching videos, however, had the least fluctuations. Three out of four drivers admitted to watching a video while alone, and 45 percent do it with friends.
Several teens said the fear of accidents is what prompts them to make comments about their friends phone use, especially if there were some close calls already.
"It probably gets to the point where I say, 'Hey you want to put the phone down? I'm trying to live.' "