The tragedies associated with distracted driving often expose teens to accidents and personal injuries that could had been prevented.

As officers all across the country discuss the tragic accidents they often respond to while on duty, they also urge drivers to dedicate more attention to the road and the act of driving. But urging them to act is not enough; that’s why several groups across the country are working to make sure teens and young, inexperienced drivers are learning firsthand what distracted driving really looks like.

During an event put together by local high schools and law enforcement agencies, teens got the chance to learn more about the consequences of distracted driving with the help of a driving simulator. The technology has been used countless times, yet young drivers continue to forgo safe driving techniques to stay focused on their phones.

News sources have indicated that in places like Wisconsin, AT&T as well as AAA have combined forced with the Wisconsin State Patrol to participate in events that celebrate safety by raising awareness to the risks associated with distracted driving. These events hope to allow teen drivers to learn about the dangers associated with distracted driving with the help of a driving simulator. The technology is known as “Choose Your Ride” car and it allows the teen to learn about the consequences of distracted driving in a safe environment.

Officers also took it to school parking lots to call out on teens who display poor driving practices.

According to the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, teens involved in accidents caused by distracted driving had their eyes off the road for about 4, 4.1 seconds before the collisions took place. This information helps us to understand just how the distracted driving accidents that happen nationwide daily are being caused and what is the best way to ensure the problem does not continue to expose drivers to more risks.

But phone use alone is not the only activity that teens must be concerned about. According to experts, teens who are often distracted while in the vehicle are also playing with the radio, iPods, or other electronic devices other than their phones.

When working to get the attention of teen drivers, the use of displays and simulators works wonders, experts and law enforcement agents claim. Lectures, not so much.

For more information on what several groups are doing to ensure teen drivers are safe, make sure to follow this link to read the full article.