Distraction a major factor in teen driver crashes: study

Distraction is responsible for six out of ten accidents involving teenagers and mobile phones are not the most common source of consternation, a new study reveals.

The United States' AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety found distractions were a factor in 58 percent of moderate to severe crashes involving teenage drivers.

The result is more than four times higher than the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's estimate of 14 percent.

Confronting footage analysed for the study shows teens engrossed in their phones, blissfully unaware of their surroundings until they lift their gaze from the ubiquitous electronic devices.

Looks of terror fill their eyes as they realise a collision is imminent.

The inexperienced drivers then flail their arms around the wheel in vain before crashing to a halt.

The researchers' findings are based on more than 6800 such videos taken from cameras inside teen drivers' cars.

The AAA study found that the main cause of distraction leading to crashes for teen motorists was the driver talking to or interacting with passengers in the vehicle, accounting for 15 percent of teen crashes.

The driver using a mobile phone came in second, leading to 12 percent of crashes.

Sixty-six percent of all crashes were caused by decision errors such as failing to give way, running stop signs and speeding.