Caught On Tape: Teen Drivers Moments Before a Crash | Nightline |ABC News
Summary
TLDRThe video script highlights the alarming impact of distracted driving, particularly among teenagers, through graphic illustrations and real-life accident footage. It reveals that distractions, including texting and talking, are involved in nearly 60% of teen car crashes, a figure significantly higher than police reports suggest. The tragic story of Liz Marx, who suffered severe injuries from a car crash caused by texting, underscores the life-altering consequences of such behavior. The script calls for awareness and stricter laws to prevent distracted driving, emphasizing the message that no text is worth risking a life.
Takeaways
- ๐จ Distracted driving, particularly by teenagers, is a leading cause of car accidents in the U.S.
- ๐ฑ The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety's research revealed that distractions were a factor in nearly 60% of teen car crashes, much higher than previous estimates.
- ๐ฅ Talking to someone in the vehicle was identified as the most common distraction, followed by texting and talking on cell phones.
- ๐ Teenagers have the highest crash rate of any group, highlighting the need for awareness and education.
- ๐ The tragic story of Liz Marx illustrates the severe consequences of texting while driving, resulting in permanent injuries and disabilities.
- ๐ฅ Liz Marx's ongoing medical journey includes the use of a prosthetic eye and dealing with the loss of multiple senses, emphasizing the long-term impact of such accidents.
- ๐ข Liz and her mother Betty are advocating for safer driving by sharing their story in schools to warn teens about the dangers of distracted driving.
- ๐ฎโโ๏ธ The Department of Transportation's campaign against distracted driving has been widely viewed, indicating a broad effort to raise awareness.
- ๐จโ๐ซ Robert Sinclair from AAA suggests practical steps for parents to minimize teen accidents, including setting rules, choosing safe cars, and monitoring behavior.
- ๐ง The young brain's development is not fully mature until the early twenties, which may affect a teen's ability to handle distractions while driving.
- ๐ The AAA is advocating for laws to prohibit cell phone use by teen drivers, with 13 states having already implemented such measures.
Q & A
What is the main focus of the video script provided?
-The main focus of the video script is the issue of distracted driving, particularly among teenagers, and its serious consequences, including car crashes and fatalities.
What is the percentage of car crashes involving distractions as found by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety?
-The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety found that distractions were a factor in nearly 60% of car crashes, which is four times higher than previous estimates based on police reports.
What was the most common distraction among the drivers involved in the crashes analyzed by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety?
-The most common distraction was talking to someone in the vehicle, followed by texting and talking on cell phones.
What happened to Liz Marx when she took her eyes off the road to read a text from her mom while driving?
-Liz Marx crashed into a tow truck, resulting in serious brain injuries, disfigurement, disability, and blindness in one eye.
What is the current condition of Liz Marx after the accident?
-At the age of 20, Liz Marx remains disfigured, disabled, and has lost her sense of smell, the ability to create natural tears, and struggles with sleep without medication. She is also fitted with a prosthetic eye.
What is the role of Liz Marx and her mother Betty in raising awareness about distracted driving?
-Liz Marx and her mother Betty travel the country, speaking at high schools to warn teens about the hazards of distracted driving and to emphasize that no text is worth risking one's life.
What is the Department of Transportation's stance on distracted driving as portrayed in the script?
-The Department of Transportation warns against distracted driving and has a video that has been viewed over 8 million times on YouTube, emphasizing that the message is not just for teens but for all drivers.
What advice does the script provide for parents to minimize teen accidents?
-The script suggests that parents should set rules, buy a safe car, and monitor their teen's driving behavior, including possibly using tracking devices to ensure safe practices.
What is the significance of the multiscreen simulator mentioned in the script?
-The multiscreen simulator is used to help teens learn how to drive and to demonstrate how even small distractions can lead to serious, sometimes fatal, driving errors.
What is the current status of laws prohibiting cell phone use by teen drivers according to the script?
-The AAA is pushing states to pass laws prohibiting cell phone use by teen drivers, and so far, 13 states have not complied with this recommendation.
What was the punishment for 18-year-old Aaron Devo after he was convicted of vehicular homicide by texting?
-The script does not provide specific details about Aaron Devo's punishment, but it mentions that he became the first driver in Massachusetts to be convicted of vehicular homicide by texting after a fatal accident.
Outlines
๐จ Teen Distracted Driving Dangers
The video script highlights the alarming dangers of distracted driving among teenagers, focusing on the perils of using phones while driving. It features shocking videos of teens losing control of their vehicles due to distractions such as texting or talking to passengers. The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety's research reveals that distraction is a factor in nearly 60% of teen car crashes, which is significantly higher than previous estimates. The script emphasizes the devastating consequences of such behavior, exemplified by the tragic story of Liz Marx, who suffered severe injuries and life-altering disabilities after crashing while reading a text from her mother. The video serves as a stark warning to parents and drivers alike about the risks of distracted driving and the importance of avoiding any form of in-vehicle distraction.
๐ Strategies to Combat Distracted Driving
This paragraph of the script discusses strategies to reduce distracted driving, particularly among teens. It suggests setting clear expectations for teen drivers, possibly through a written contract outlining acceptable behaviors. The recommendation is to choose a safe car, ideally a slow, underpowered, and larger vehicle. Additionally, it advises parents to monitor their teen's driving behavior, mentioning the availability of tracking devices. The script also warns against the dangers of loud music and the misconception that hands-free devices eliminate the risks of phone use while driving. The AAA is advocating for stricter laws to prohibit cell phone use by teen drivers, and the script concludes with a powerful message from Liz Marx, urging against texting while driving, emphasizing that no text is worth the risk to one's life.
Mindmap
Keywords
๐กDistracted Driving
๐กTeenagers
๐กCar Crashes
๐กAAA Foundation for Traffic Safety
๐กEyes Off the Road
๐กTexting and Driving
๐กCrash Rate
๐กDisfigured
๐กProsthetic Eye
๐กDriving Simulator
๐กHands-Free Device
๐กVehicular Homicide
Highlights
A new video illustrates the dangers of teenagers, cars, and distractions.
Distracted driving is the number one killer of American teenagers.
AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety analyzed nearly 1,700 accident videos.
Distraction found in nearly 60% of crashes, four times higher than police reports suggest.
Talking to someone in the vehicle is the most common distraction.
Texting and talking on cell phones are the second biggest distractions.
Teenagers have the highest crash rate of any group in the country.
The story of Liz Marx, who suffered severe injuries from texting while driving.
Liz Marx's ongoing medical journey includes a prosthetic eye and loss of other senses.
Liz and her mother now speak at high schools to warn about distracted driving.
A survey shows many students admit to texting and driving, thinking it's acceptable if parents do it.
The Department of Transportation's video has been viewed over 8 million times on YouTube.
Fresh Green Light Driving School uses a multiscreen simulator to teach teens about driving distractions.
Robert Sinclair from AAA emphasizes the need to eliminate all distractions before driving.
Young drivers have limited experience and an underdeveloped brain until around 21 or 22 years old.
Parents are advised to set rules, buy safe cars, and monitor their teen's driving behavior.
AAA is pushing for laws prohibiting cell phone use by teen drivers; 13 states have not complied.
The consequences for distracted driving can include severe punishment, such as vehicular homicide convictions.
Liz Marx's message emphasizes the importance of not texting and driving, as a text can wait but life can't.
Transcripts
a new video tonight with a graphic
illustration of the combustible mix of
teenagers cars and distraction this is a
warning not only for parents but for
anybody who Gets behind the wheel and
here's ABC's Lindsay
Janice watch as this teen distracted by
her phone for roughly 6 seconds loses
control and kin off the
road and this teen one hand on the phone
another on the wheel just seconds before
colliding with another car
holy here's another playing DJ before
running off the
[Music]
road and another chatting to her friend
then plowing into the car in front of
her that was your pH that was my phone
these shocking videos are all part of an
unprecedented look at the number one
killer of American teenagers car crashes
in the most comprehensive research of it
kind the AAA foundation for Traffic
Safety analyzed nearly 1,700 accident
videos finding distraction a factor in
nearly 60% of crashes that's four times
the previous estimates based on police
reports what we call eyes off the road
the biggest distraction may come as a
surprise what was the most common the
most common was talking to somebody in
the vehicle exactly what we're doing and
the second biggest distraction
texting and talking on cell
phones teens have the highest crash rate
of any group in the country Marilyn
teenager Liz Marx was a beautiful
popular high schooler who even did
modeling on the side when in April 2012
she was driving and received a text from
her mom I would ask Liz all the time do
you text and drive do you use your cell
phone behind the wheel and she told me
no so I felt confident I felt that it
was okay to text Liz in the moments Liz
took her eyes off the road to read the
text she crashed into a tow truck the
17-year-old was airlifted to a hospital
with serious brain injuries I remember
praying and as my head was
down I saw blood all over the
floor and it was my daughter's
blood and now at 20 Liz remains
disfigured disabled and blinded in one
eye so let's just take a look and see
how you're doing in here today ocularist
Timothy FR at John's Hopkins is fitting
Liz with a prosthetic eye just one part
of her lifelong medical Journey what's
my future life of this well it's going
to be very much like having two eyes
again from the accident injuries she's
lost her sense of smell can't create
natural tears and can't fall asleep
without drugs I had to really learn how
to walk talk read write Chew ABC 1 to3 I
didn't know how to do anything Liz and
her mother Betty now travel the country
speaking out at high schools to warn
teens about the hazards of distracted
driving and how no text is worth risking
your life we asked the students do you
text and drive and you know a lot of
them rais their hands and then we ask do
your parents text and drive and those
hands go flying so the young adults the
young drivers think if they can do it
then I can do it if you get a text don't
look at it they p for the Department of
Transportation has been viewed over 8
million times on YouTube it's a warning
that isn't just for teens but for all of
us who drive in this age of 247
technology so here I go Robert there's a
lot of traffic building up here to
better understand how small distractions
can lead to Serious sometimes fatal
errors she really let me have it that's
916 po
de I headed to fresh Green Light Driving
School in Greenwich Connecticut with
aaa's Robert Sinclair this is a
multiscreen simulator that many teens
are using to learn how to drive try
texting him at
35350 I was surprised how just a tiny
bit of distraction made me second guess
my driving
[Music]
ability Sinclair says if we're serious
about safety we need to eliminate every
distraction even before you get started
we're going to have you remove your
bulky winter coat no kidding I can't
drive my coat abely you shouldn't
because it restricts the movement of
your arms winter coat does not allow
disobey the driving instructor no that's
right so how can we all be safer behind
the wheel d 16 to 19 years old we're
talking about a driver that has very
limited experience limited training and
numerous Studies have shown that the the
young brain is not fully developed until
it gets to 21 or 22 years old I asked
Robert what parents could do to minimize
teen accidents number one set some rules
you let your teen driver know exactly
what is expected of him or her where you
outline very carefully perhaps even with
a written contract the behaviors that
are acceptable number two buy a safe car
you want a slow underpowered preferably
big vehicle and number three monitor
their behavior time there are devices
that you can track SP on your children
is that why you want to keep them alive
for all drivers adultss included he
warns against loud music and also says
just because you use a handsfree device
doesn't mean you're safe AAA is now
pushing states to pass laws prohibiting
cell phone use by teen drivers so far 13
states have not for distracted teen
drivers lucky enough to survive the
punishment can be
severe in 2012 18-year-old Aaron dvo
became the first driver in Mass chusetts
to be convicted of vehicular homicide by
texting after hitting a 54-year-old man
on the day of the accident Devo sending
a reported
193 text as for Liz Marx who answered
that fateful text from her mom her
message is simple the message is to not
text and drive a text message can wait
but your life can't so just don't waste
it like I wasted mine for Nightline in
Connecticut I'm Lindsay
Janice all right thanks to Lindsay
Janice tonight and you should know that
every driver shown in that AAA video did
survive nobody was killed in any of
those
crashes
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