Experiences reported in the AAA Colorado Teen Driver Survey

Teens were invited to anonymously tell AAA Colorado about their experiences as a teen driver. The following comments were shared by survey participants. Comments have not been edited for content, spelling, or punctuation.

15 year old Male

I do not have my license yet, but my Dad works with me and teaching me to drive in large open feilds in my grand parents ranch lands.

18 year old Female

I was driving on the freeway with a friend, and she began to text. While she did she swerved back and forth in the lane and was clearly not paying enough attention to her driving. I told her to please stop texting because it was giving me a nervous stomach ache.

18 year old Female

I was hit by a driver who was on her cell phone. She t-boned my car and totaled both our vehicles. She wasn't wearing a seat belt, and broke her arm and a leg. I was wearing my seat belt, which the emergency responders said saved my life.

19 year old Female

About 8 months after I got my license I was driving and talking on my cell phone on a wet night. I wasn't paying attention. I ran a red light and t-boned another car. I haven't used my cell phone in the car since.

17 year old Male

I just have a problem with people that aren't good drivers using cell phones or doing something distracting. I'm a little more comfortable with someone thats a better driver. It takes two people to be in a car wreck, but only one little mistake or distraction to drive off the edge of a road, and I don't think that a majority of teen drivers realize that. A 1 ton vehicle can do ALOT of damage. The car is really a shiny metal deathtrap, but less of a risk if people would drive safe, and better.

19 year old Male

I would actually place a I-pods as dangerous as texting on cell phones while driving. They are as time consuming and definitely as attention stealing as texting. Both require you to pay attention to what is on the screen for long periods of time.

18 year old Female

On March 9, 2006 I was driving home late one night from a tutoring session. I had been driving for about five mounths, and I considered myself to be a fairly competant driver. I was planing on driving home on Arapahoe road, when I was accidently merged onto South bound I-25. I was scared, but I tried to keep my cool, I got off at the next exit, but I was really lost. I was trying to read road signs as I was driving, and ended up accidnetly going through a red right and t-boned an SUV and a RTD bus. Although I didn't have any of the common distractors, I didn't have the radio on, I didn't even have my cell phone, I still ended up causing a serious accident. It is this incident that always reminds me to drive safely.

22 year old Female

I was in a car accident where the driver was drunk and she rolled her vehicle 3 times. I was the front seat passenger - I luckly had my seatbelt on. I could have been thrown from the vehicle. I was not drinking and blew a -0- when the cops arrived.

16 year old Female

Experience is everything.

18 year old Female

I think the more experience you are at driving the rules should be more lacked. Where as those drivers that are just getting their license should have to drive 6 months to a year of having their license before they are allowed to use them while driving. Get some experience under their belts.

19 year old Male

As a teen driver i am constantly reminded of my peers lack of responsibility and understanding of the power they have behind the wheel. unfortunately, as i travel constantly around Colorado, i am witness to teens completely ignoring the road as their attention lies downward toward their phone for periods of over a mile. drifting between lanes and inability to keep speed, the similarities between teen texting drivers,and drunk drivers is striking. unfortunately these drivers are not uncommon, especially during the commute to and from school, around malls, movie theatres, bolling alleys, residential areas, and even highways as busy as I-25. i believe that we need to stop this before it becomes a problem, there are already recorded deaths related to text messaging in; Arizona, Hawaii, Kentucky, and even here in Colorado. Their are laws prohibiting cellphone usage in California, Connecticut, New York and Washington, D.C and laws specifically prohibiting text messaging while driving in Washington state. this is a dangerous habit for us to learn, now is the time to stop it before it becomes a even bigger problem.

20 year old Male

I had a late night in Castle Rock, and I was driving home on I-25 north from Founders parkway. As I passed Castle Pines parkway, there was this guy in an acura integra texting while he was driving. He was swerving a lot on the road, not staying in his lane. I saw him driving with his knee on the wheel and texting at the same time. I was spooked, and dropped back about 100 ft from him. Thank god I got onto C470 and he stayed on I-25.

18 year old Female

The one thing that really bothers me is not cell phones or phones in general, it's teens that go out to a party and drink even a little bit and go drive. It is so stupid and could kill you, me or anyone else. There should be stricter rules against this becuase it is getting worse. I would rather be called at 2 in the morning when im dead asleep and have a friend wkae me up to come get them than they drive home even if they have had one beer.

18 year old Male

The other night I was driving home from my aunts house. While I was going down Santa Fe I was speeding, then I started to think to myself would my mom really care if I was late just because I didnt want to speed to make it home in time? What if I see a cop and I get a ticket? Too late off in the distance I saw the red and blue strobe lights on the cop car and I knew that they were for me. I ended up getting a six-point ticket and will possibly lose my drivers license. Its in the hands of a judge now. I know what I did was wrong and Im not going to do it again. So all because I was speeding I might not be able to drive to work or school anymore.

18 year old Male

I just recently in February and I really don't think that teens are affected as much by texting and driving if you are a guy. I know it sounds sexist, but I believe it to be true that more girls get into accidents because of cell phone use while driving than guys. I also think that it is an "our generation" kind of thing. Parents, and any adults, don't really understand that we use our cell phones ALL DAY, EVERY DAY. I texted through every class in high school, and never got caught. I could hold my phone under my desk, text, and have a conversation with my teacher at the same time and they wouldn't know. I got into a car accident recently and it was the other guys fault (he went through a red light while I was turning left on a green arrow) and when he got out of the car, HIS PHONE WAS IN HIS HAND! We are so used to doing things and using our phone at the same time. It is our second nature. Because so many older people aren't very technology efficient, they can't do things with phones as fast as we can.

16 year old Male

I believe that the most influence to have bad driving skills come from your friends. All of my friends use their cell phones and some don't even have licenses while driving. But you can overcome those things and still do the right thing for the right reasons.

18 year old Male

i was paying attention to a passenger and almost hit a car in front of me.

18 year old Female

Almost everytime i drive i always have someone in the car with me even though i have my licens. Wheather it be my sister or my boyfriend or a friend I'm always distracted by someone telling me to turn up the radio, roll down the window, turn the air on, and more...but the one thing that distracts me the most is when they tell me how to drive and sometimes i take there advise and speed up or cut off a car because they cut me off...I don't know why i listen to them but now i've gotten to the point were i tell them i don't need a passanger driver or a back seat driver...its time i drive my way and do what i thinks right and safe for me and the other drivers around me

20 year old Female

Fatigue is a problem widely overlooked with teen drivers. I went on a road trip with a bumch of friends and many of the guys wanted to drive straight through the night with the excuse that "they stay up just as late in any other circumstance, so they should be fine." I tried to reason that it just does not work like that, and that they were far more exhausted than even they thought - thier driving backed up my point, but the testosterone was surging and it took a lot of arguing before any of us could convince them it was time to pull over for the night. Even then, the argued that they were not going to sleep anyway. Needless to say, they didn't drive the following morning.

18 year old Male

One time I was driving and i saw a guy in his car and he was talking on the phone, because he we talking and not paying full attention to the road he kept accelerating and slowing down from time to time and he tail gated a lot of people on the road. if he hadnt been on the phone he wouldnt not be an aggressive driver and would not be putting other peoples lifes in danger.

17 year old Female

every teen should have to take alive at 25, it totally changed how i think about seatbelts especially, I NEVER get in a car without putting on my seatbelt now

17 year old Female

I have tried to text while driving and it is very risky so i try only to do it when there is not alot of cars around

17 year old Female

i love driving it's fun but can be dangerous. if your a new driver learn to drive first because i get very angry at drivers that suck!

17 year old Female

I'm not the best driver, however I consider myself to be a very cautious and safe driver. I've seen and heard of several different accidents that I do my best to avoid. For instance, my friend told me that she over corrected herself after she had been text messaging...she over corrected by turning the wheel too far and ended up in ditch after she hit another car. Thankfully, my friend is okay, as she was wearing a seatbelt but I strongly advised her to never text message while driving again!

17 year old Male

some idiot decided to run a red light as i was making a left hand turn. came within a few feet of hitting me. scared the hell outta me.

20 year old Male

There are plenty of times where people do illegal turns, when there are right turn lane exits. I've actually almost hit a police vehicle because of this. Trying to pull someone else over. And he then also pulled me over saying I didn't yield to him. When I was only 50ft or so I'm not sure I was pretty close to the Intersection.

20 year old Male

There are plenty of times where people do illegal turns, when there are right turn lane exits. I've actually almost hit a police vehicle because of this. Trying to pull someone else over. And he then also pulled me over saying I didn't yield to him. When I was only 50ft or so I'm not sure I was pretty close to the Intersection.

18 year old Female

I do not reply to or send or read recieved text messages when I am in the action of driving. However, if I am stopped at a stoplight then I might read and reply if it's something fast and needs to be known quickly. Other than that, it is really unsafe, just as unsafe as it is to be holding and talking on a cell phone. I find that to be more distracting because it is going on for a longer amount of time, and isn't something that can be taken care of quickly at a stoplight and be done.

16 year old Female

I've encountered more adults that had reckless behavior on the roads than teenagers. Instead of cracking down on teens and how many passengers are in the car, the state should educate the adults and pull them over for cell phone use or whatever the case may be.

16 year old Male

I see drivers teen drivers all the time texting or on a phone. I also have noticed that more and more teens are switching to bluetooths or other hands free devices, but they can also be as distracting as being on the phone!

21 year old Male

Taking defensive driving classes, and doing an active pizza delivery job has made me more conscious and aware of other drivers. For example, just recently I was cut off by a large truck easily traveling 70MPH, while the speed limit is only 35. If I can't speed and cut other people off, neither can they. That driver was turned in via the telephone by me because I want people to drive safely. Teens need MANDATORY driver's training courses. It not only makes them better drivers by aiding awareness and mental training, but it also lowers insurance costs dramatically. Federal tax dollars should be spent to preserve the safety of students and young drivers nationwide. All drivers should take the courses, teens should be required to, in order to graduate from High Schools.

17 year old Female

My first day of driving to my work i turned the corner and there was a huge van stopped in the middle of the road. I swerved and went off the road and was sliding in the gravel. The first thing that came to my mind was what my Drivers Ed. instructer said; slowly press on your breaks and dont panic. Luckily I remebered that, if I paniced i would of hit a huge tree.

17 year old Female

I don't have a story.

18 year old Male

I was driving just yesturday when someone in a Lexus SUV suddenly decided to veer across 3 lanes for an exit. She had a cell phone jammed in her ear and wasn't paying attention.

18 year old Male

i only have ever used my phone to text at a stop light and i do not talk on the phone cause i have a manual

17 year old Female

When driving i put my cell phone on silent so that i wouldn't get distracted if i got a text message and want to look down to see who texted me and want to text back. I have had some pretty not so good expiereces with text messages and driving i almost got in an accident so i haven't done it ever since.

17 year old Male

i love texting

17 year old Male

once I watched a guy watch a movie in his mini van and watched him rear end someone.

18 year old Male

While driving the speed limit through a residential area a little kid ran into the street right in front of me. I had to slam on the brakes and the drinks I had just purchased went all over the floor. If I had been distracted, I would not have seen the little kid.

17 year old Female

Actually i have not had to many story but there are so crazy and scary drivers out there and most of them are older people that dont pay attiotion.

16 year old Male

It might not be the kind of story that AAA is looking for, but I guess I kind of have one. The parking lot at my school is full of teen drivers, all of whom are trying to get off of school grounds at the same time, so it can get a little hectic. Especially since there's really only one road in and out. School has only been in session a week, and I can already tell that there is going to be at least one fender bender by the end of the year. I just hope that I'm not someone involved. And even though traffic may be bumper to bumper in that area, I drive as carefully and pay as much attention to my surroundings as I can. Even with the traffic pans out and it becomes less a danger zone, I still try to stay alert and aware.

15 year old Male

It was the day after I got my permit, and i was driving to tennis practice with my dad. I tried to turn on the radio, and in the three seconds that i looked away i drifted into the other lane and would have hit a very fast approaching car if my dad hadn't jerked the wheel. Ever since i have someone else fiddle with the radio!

15 year old Male

It was the day after I got my permit, and i was driving to tennis practice with my dad. I tried to turn on the radio, and in the three seconds that i looked away i drifted into the other lane and would have hit a very fast approaching car if my dad hadn't jerked the wheel. Ever since i have someone else fiddle with the radio!

15 year old Male

It was the day after I got my permit, and i was driving to tennis practice with my dad. I tried to turn on the radio, and in the three seconds that i looked away i drifted into the other lane and would have hit a very fast approaching car if my dad hadn't jerked the wheel. Ever since i have someone else fiddle with the radio!

20 year old Male

When i first got my license, a couple of older guys were all talkin and messin around after practice and I was leavin to go home. Well one guys squeeled his tires and ran into my car while hanging out his window bragging to his buddies. He didnt see me at all until after he hit me.

18 year old Female

I've never wanted to get a driver's license and I dragged my feet for the entire two years that I had my permit and even before that. The only reason I got it is because my parents made me get it. The main reason I didn't want to get my license was because I was afraid of hurting myself or anyone else while I'm driving. I failed my first driving test which really didn't help my fear. I failed because I almost ran into a truck while changing lanes and scaring the poor lady giving me the test half to death. Later (once I had managed to change lanes safely) I noticed that the truck was full of flammables. That really didn't help matters. But now that I have my license (I passed easily the second time) I must admit that the freedom of being able to go places even when one or both of my parents isn't available is very nice.

18 year old Male

I have seen semi truck drivers and adults reading books and reading e-mails from their computer while driving on I-25.

19 year old Male

I want to become a police officer after college. So I make sure that every time I get in my vehicle, I drive as safely as possible and always make my friends put on thier seat belts.

17 year old Male

As a teen driver i have observed many of the issues talked about in this survey. The two things that make me uncomfurtable the most are people texting and people puting on makeup while driving. Every once in awhile I answer my phone or glance down at a text for a second and it really distracts me. I cant imagin why more of the people that constantly are on the phone or texting dont think to themselfs, "hey is it that important to talk to my friend then posibly lose my life?" I think there should be more laws to save the people that dont think.

18 year old Female

I have had my permit for 2wo years now. I could go get my licence any day, but that comes with a lot of extra baggage. Being a teen, insurance is high as it is, but then there's buying a car, gas, possibility of an accident, and more pollution. The but is a lot cheaper, helps for carpool and the environment, and a lot less likely to be involved in a fatal accident.

20 year old Female

Teen drivers can be incredibly scary. They get distracted by idiotic passengers, loud music, and texting. I tend to be pretty safe, so drivers like that are scary.

18 year old Female

For me, being able to drive as a teen has come with tons of benefits, but also tons of new concerns and worries. It's nice to be able to not have to rely on my parents to drive me everywhere and driving is one of the esential skills we need to consider ourselves fully independant. Driving is fun, but also risky at times because you never know what could happen on the road. There's lots of things to worry about, like obeying the driving laws and keeping an eye on the other cars around you. With experience, driving becomes second nature, but even the most experienced drivers can get distracted and cause an accident. I hope new, as well as experienced drivers take into account that there are a lot of responsibilities that come with a drivers licence and, even though I like to talk on the phone and text just as much as the next person, you should limit your double tasking and extra activity while on the road.

18 year old Female

I was in the backseat of my friend's car, on the way to lunch when I realized she was texting while driving. She failed to stop at the next stop sign because of the distraction of texting. I just closed my eyes and braced myself because i believed we were going to get t-boned. I haven't rode with my friend since that incident.

17 year old Female

One of the scariest things for me is other dirvers that aren't even teens driving. I was heading to school for practice and I switched lanes. This guy comes speeding up the my trunk, zips into the other lane, passes me, and then zips right back in front of me without giving either one of us that much room in between. I had nowhere to go if anything had happened and it did scare me. I think so much stress is put on teen driving when really everyone is as dangerous as the next person.

16 year old Female

I have been flipped off by many road rage adults and nearly get myself into car crashes because i turn when im not paying attention(distractions) or trying to merge onto a left lane when the person already in the left is speeding like a mad-man. What I would like to see more is people staying within speed limit and to quit texting while driving. IT'S frighting to see them sway their car side to side trying to steer with one hand only.

18 year old Male

When I drive, I constantly find myself watching the other cars around me. Because people are much more unpredictable, you have to be a defensive driver and be able to react if they slam on their brakes or quickly merge into your lane. When you're texting or talking to your friends, you loose the abbility to focus on being a safe driver.

17 year old Male

I was backing out of a parking space with four friends in the car. We were talking about the school day and I got distracted. I looked one way and there were no cars for as far as I could see. I looked the other way and there was a line of cars. I waited for them to all pass and the started to back out without looking the first direction again. I nearly hit a car which had to swerve to miss me and honked loudly. This was a very awakening experience to me. This has been one of many close calls that have really made me realize just how dangerous driving can be and how careful/ defensive I must be. I have seen accidents and heard about people I know get in drinking-related accidents and many of the near-accident situations I have personally experienced have made me take driving much more seriously.

19 year old Male

i was cut off by a driver on a cell phone, the person almost caused me wreck into the median.

17 year old Female

I am not really concerned about the cell phone use while driving a car, but i am worried about all those people that have not had as much experience driving before using thier cell phones while they are driving. I am also afraid of the night driving and using a cell phone because you can hardly see what is in front of you and taking your eyes off the road to try and text someone that could cause a pile up and that is no good andI would hate to be in that possition. That is all that I personly am concerned about in teen driving.

18 year old Male

Not really a story, but sometimes my mom takes a pad of paper and pen, puts it on the steering wheel, and writes herself a memo--while driving. This drives me nuts, especially when I'm sitting right next to her doing nothing. I always tell her to let me write instead. She's told me she won't do it any more, though, and so far she hasn't.

16 year old Female

I'm 15 years old and i'm almost 16 but most of my friends already got their license. After having their permits for over a year and finally receiving their license they still are careless. They'll be distracted by the loud music or us talking. It has almost even gotten us into an accident.

17 year old Female

A few months back I was driving on a highway. I was going about 65 miles an hour, and looked down to see that my odometer read exactly 100,000 miles. I was so excited that I pulled out my cell phone and tried to take a picture of the momentous occasion. Needless to say, that was stupid, and very distracting. I ran off the road. Luckily it was not a busy area and there was just dirt past the shoulder. I was fine, but it was still scary!! I try to be more careful about distractions now!

21 year old Male

loud music? come on pleease.

17 year old Male

My Experiance as a teen driver great. Because you dont have to have your parents drive you all over such as work... And while iam driving Iam always alert thats the Number one thing that a teen driver should be.

17 year old Female

NONE

18 year old Female

One day after school it started to snow. I didn't really think much of it and I was supposed to meet my friend to see her senior pictures. One of my other friends had to follow me there. The road conditions started to get worse and worse in a very short period of time. A block away from our destination I was slowing down to turn left. My friend couldn't stop because she started sliding. Some what thankfully she slide into the left turning lane and managed not to hit me from behind, but simultaniously I had started to slide and stopped one lane to the right of my previous location. I felt relieved, but that only lasted a few seconds because a car in that lane could not stop because of the ice and hit the very corner of the left side of my bumper. Then another car behind them could not stop either and hit them from behind, causing them to vear off my left side and slide along my car. Then the person that hit them hit my bumper. It actually all turned out ok because my friend was alright and surprisingly enough I had no visible damage to my car. The funny thing was that the second person to hit me was a cop.

18 year old Female

yielding is hard at first

17 year old Female

I am still in the prosses of getting my license and am having good experences with learning how to drive and controling the enviroment around me, whether it is adjusting my temp, or radio, or talking to my dad who is teaching me how to drive. I feel that besides drunk drivers, people that are talking on their cellphones are one of the most distracting and unpredictable drivers. This small destraction to them can create a big problem for other drivers. I belive that cell phones are very distracting to all drivers and should be limited to only emergency calls. I also feel that wireless devices can still distract even the best of drivers and can cause a momentary lapse of attention. From what I have seen from drivers on their phones, this can cause a big destraction and can lead to not watching for other cars including emergency vehicles, it can impare their merging judgment and their timeing on stops or turns. My thoughts for a solution for this problem is that the state could help drivers by providing a test for individules to evaulate them on their driving abilities while talking on a cellphone. I think that this test should not just be given to teens but for all people and all ages that talk on their phones while driving.

20 year old Female

At one time or another I done all of the things mentioned and never had a near accident. The only near accident I've ever had was after stepping on my brake too hard when a deer crossed the road. I didn't get close to the deer, but it made my car fishtail. I don't want to be punished by not being allowed to use my cell phone just because of someone else's stupidity!!!

18 year old Male

I have never been in a car accident.

19 year old Female

I actually was driving alone after seeing my boyfriend at the time one afternoon when i pass a gas station and next thing i know i'm flying to the median, hitting the median, bouncing off and my car stopping with a metal bar in the under part of my thighs from the passenger side of my car, turns out the guy that hit me was playing with his radio and not paying attention, he already had a warrent out for his arrest for driving offenses.

17 year old Female

Many of my friends talk on their cell phone all the time and text all the time while driving. Also a coulple cant seem to get enough of themselves in the mirror.

19 year old Female

I have a cusion that rolled my aunts SUV and walked away with bumpes and bruses. he is was texted messageing his girlfriend when he rolled it. He is lucky that he is alive today. You should see the SUV!!!

15 year old Male

I'm just learning to drive now. I like the new laws in Colorado. I have a whole year to practice with my parents which is helping my confidence level. Also, the law where I cannot drive with another teen takes the peer pressure off me.

15 year old Male

I'm just learning to drive now. I like the new laws in Colorado. I have a whole year to practice with my parents which is helping my confidence level. Also, the law where I cannot drive with another teen takes the peer pressure off me.

19 year old Male

My friend got a new Subaru with a new turbo in it. He decided he wanted to show it off by driving very fast and very recklessly. It was very scary.

18 year old Female

I think some teens are so experienced with the technology that they dont even have to look at what they are doing and having laws against it is quite pointless because warnings would be issued and then teens and people in general would be let off the hook- pointless. therefore it should just be frowned upon.

16 year old Male

When I got my license, my mom gave me her car which is wired for hands-free use and is set up for voice activated dialing. I've become pretty comfortable with using the Parrot and microphone. It works well and allows me to concentrate on driving without taking my eyes off the road.

17 year old Female

A friend of mine was driving while she had her phone in her lap and was eating a sandwich. She started driving towards and almost on the sidewalk. Needless to say, I have not ridden with her much since then.

17 year old Female

I have had many experiences where I've had drivers act afraid of me just because I'm a teen driver. I feel as if I am a safe and responsible driver. I don't text, I don't talk on my cell phone, and I don't drive recklessly. Still, I find other drivers (who are often more distraced than I; smoking, talking on cell phones, etc.) look at me as an unfit driver simply because I'm a teenager.

15 year old Female

In the summer there were these girls who were high on pot and drunk while they were driving and one girl who was my neighbor was killed and the person they hit and MAJOR problems with him and he had to be flown in a helicoptor to the ER and have mulpiple emergency sergeries that cost tens of thousands of dollars and the girl who owned the car hasnt even had jail time or been charged with anything even though she made her friend drive becuase she was too high to see. then they drove in the oncoming traffic and hit that guy. :(

21 year old Female

sat at a stop light and waited for the car ahead of me to start when it turned green. The driver was talking on the cell phone and did not see the light change

17 year old Female

I have not had any super scary or bad experiences, just minor things such as stalling my car or getting distracted by the radio. For me, my biggest focus is not speeding and staying in my lane. I have really enjoyed being able to drive, and i wish that all teen drivers would be safe and NEVER drive drunk. I hear of so many people who do because "it's just down the road" or "i just a little bit", but to me, there is NO excuse and i don't agree with those people.

15 year old Female

I am in the Teen Smart class at TRHS. I am getting my permit next week.

16 year old Female

there are alot of bad drivers i have had alot of people ride my ass which is dangerous. I have had people not paying attention almost hit me from the side when switching lines. People are horrible drivers!

17 year old Male

In my experience, it is not a teen's lack of driving experience that is the greatest threat to their safety, but other drivers. No doubt that teenagers make poor decisions on the road, but experience isn't the fix to this, thinking your decision through is. On many occasions, I have seen my parents and other adults make driving mistakes that can be very dangerous, even though they have years of experience. Classes like Master Drive instill better confidence and decision making processes in a driver than years of bad habits will. The positive habits that I gained from Master Drive have kept me out of dangerous situations on the road on a daily basis.

18 year old Female

I do not believe that cell phone restrictions should just be limited to teens. Adults are just as scary when they use their cell phones, especially because they are not as cell phone literate as teens.

17 year old Female

My dad taught me well on driving. I have had a few experiences that would have turned out to be a bad accident if my dad hadnt taught me how to react to them.

18 year old Male

One time while i was driving a dump truck wasnt paying attention and changed over into my lane and almost hit me. i slammed on my brakes to stop and he flipped me off probly cause i narrowly avoided hitting him.

19 year old Female

Many of my friends text, talk on cell phones, joke around with friends, and reach for things in the back seat. While many of them don't consider it a big deal, many of them get in accidents.

17 year old Female

The thing that bothers me the most is other drivers that pull out in front of me and don't move. In my experience, I have had numerous people not be able to merge correctly.

19 year old Female

I have never been in an accident and I consider myself to be a very good driver. I know that inexperienced drivers do get into accidents more than the average person but drunk drivers and aggressive drivers and distracted drivers and people who treat driving as a passive activity rather than an active one also get into more accidents than the average person. I don't appreciate the fact that people generalize that all teenagers are bad drivers especially because of the fact that the one time I even came close to being in an accident was with some idiot in one of those trucks that are so huge that the guy driving it must be trying to make up for something. Not only was he an adult, at least 40=45 years old, but he did not even look or signal before he started drifting over into the turn lane that I was already in so that I had to slam on my brakes to avoid my little honda being smashed by his monster truck. People in general are idiots no matter what their age is and I'm sick of being judged just because I'm a teenager when I know that I'm a better driver than most of the distracted and disengaged adults on the roads.

17 year old Female

Before i even was thinking about getting my licence i was riding with an older teammate to a tennis match and she decided to break 100 while we were on the highway, just because she had never done it before. This was so scary because she seemed so out of control and as a passenger i couldn't do anything to stop her. Because of this i am always extra careful to go the speed limit even if i'm following someone who i speeding i know, and my parents have made clear to me, it's just too much of a risk to speed just because everyone else is.

17 year old Female

Being a teen driver is a huge privelege and luxury. It also comes with huge responsibility and it can be scary at times. I thought nothing could go wrong after I had my license and car, but that was far from true. Just six months after getting my car I was rear ended at a stop light and my car was totalled. Luckily no one was hurt, but the wreck taught me to be a lot more cautious of your surroundings and to also slow down at intersections. I now know how precious life can be and how much of a luxury having your license and a car is. When i get my new car I will definiitely be a lot mor careful.

17 year old Male

Not including myself I seen teen drivers mess, crash, speed up even without being distracted.

16 year old Male

involved in a fender bender while distracted by a passenger

17 year old Female

I really don't have a story. Other than I am a teenager trying to make a difference in the world. But I still do a lot of the same tenneger things.

17 year old Female

I really respect the law of no passsengers in the car the first six months you have your license and only one passenger the second six months. My parents did a good ob by setting strict rules when i got my license. I never had anyone besides family in my car in my first six months. In my second six months i only drove one passenger at a time. I feel like this really protected me because in a teen's first year of driving you need to have experience before other people put their lives in your hands.

17 year old Female

I think people are so worried about the police pulling them over that when they see them the tend to slam on thier breaks which could cause an accedent.

15 year old Female

I am a new driver yet I grew up driving so I am very experienced and i notice things. I recently drove with a friend of mine for the first time along with a few other of my friends. I was extremely uncomfortable with the way he drove. He just didn't seem to notice ANYTHING around him, except maybe trying to look cool by "drumming" to the music on his steering wheel, he was very bad at it as a side note :) but anywho his reactions to everything was very ridiculuous and neither me or my other friend were comfortable driving with him, so we got out the next chance we could and drove with our other friend. The way he reacted to red lights, for example, was odd. I'm more than sure that he noticed that a light was red or had just turned red or whatever, though he refrained from braking until it got to the point where it jerked everyone in the car. He didn't think anything of it. His reaction to the stop lights occured also at stop signs, sudden stops, and every other occasion when you have to stop. Also, when he would switch lanes, he didn't bother to check his blind spot, and as he merged, he would just jerk the steering wheel. It was very uncomfortable and I am more than sure that he wasn't aware of his surroundings.

17 year old Male

I reached down to get my backpack and the guy infront of me was not paying attention and the light was green and i ewnded up rearending him. But it was my fault for the distraction i made in my car.

15 year old Male

I have my grivers permit and am 15 years old

19 year old Male

Over the few years of driving i feel i have gained more experience but i still dont have all the experience. I think it is very important for young drivers to go through driving and skills classes to be safer on the road.

17 year old Female

well i have just noticed alot of people not paying attention while driving. i have almost been hit more times since i have started school and been driving to lunch that like during the summer.

18 year old Female

Being courteous to other drivers is something that I'm proud of, and I like it when other drivers are courteous to me.