“Obviously prohibited behaviors”: belt, alcohol, GSM … the alarming figures for Vias on our teens

A VIAS study reveals that many young people aged 15 to 19 adopt risky road behavior: use of smartphone by car, cycling or scooter, absence of belt, alcohol, speed. For example, The institute calls parents and teenagers to more responsibility. &#13. Furthermore,

Forty percent of young people from 15 to 19 years old ‘sometimes forget to complete their belt when they are rear passengers of a car and two thirds of them send messages with their smartphone when they roll by bicycle, it comes from a Vias study published on Monday. Nevertheless, “Young people aged 15 to 19 represent 10 % of all road victims in our country. Nevertheless, At that age. Meanwhile, they do not always respect traffic rules and do not “obviously prohibited behaviors”: belt, alcohol, always properly assess the risks, “said the Institute which questioned nearly 1,500 young people of 24 schools in Wallonia, Brussels and Flanders.

Last year, Belgium counted 4,609 road victims aged 15 to 19, down 7 % compared to 2015. In addition, In this number, 65 % were boys, details Vias. “During the past month, four out of ten young people were transported in their parents’ car. However, the behavior of the latter sometimes leaves something to be desired, ”adds the institute. Thus, three in four young people (74 %) indicate that their parents have arrived to exceed the speed limitation. And according to their children, one in two relatives (53 %) led with a mobile phone by hand.

Forgetting the belt – "obviously prohibited behaviors": belt, alcohol,

As for the absence of a belt in the back? “No problem” for half of teens. If eight out of ten young people consider that it is “very risky” to drive without a seat belt. only 46 % of them find this risky behavior as a rear passenger. “In fact. 17 % of them say they have already traveled at the front without completing their belt and almost four out of ten (38 %) in the back during the past month,” continues Vias.

In addition. more than half “obviously prohibited behaviors”: belt, alcohol, of the young people interviewed say they have already rolled by bicycle by calling with their laptop in hand during the past month (53 %). Two thirds (65 %) even sent, read an SMS or consulted social networks while driving. “Obviously prohibited” behaviors, recalls the Institute. Almost three out of ten young people (28 %) also admit that they have rolled by bike in the. last 30 days when they may have exceeded the legal alcohol limit.

And the observation is not more reassuring on the side of users of electric scooters: eight out of ten entrust to the sidewalk. seven out of ten rolled in two on an electric scooter during the last month.

Finally, one in four (24 %) indicates “obviously prohibited behaviors”: belt, alcohol, take more risks when he is with friends than when he is alone. Likewise. one in two young people declares to cross the street without paying attention to traffic when accompanied and four out of ten would go up, with their friends, in the car of a driver who drank too much to go to a party.

The example of parents

“The fact that adolescents take more risks is specific to their age. As a parent, it is important to show the example and maintain dialogue. Before the start of the school year. conclude clear agreements and explain young people to the possible consequences of risk behavior are an important first step to guide them towards desired behavior and safe participation in traffic, ”insists the VIAS Institute.

In this context. and in collaboration with XIU, a volunteer organization that works to improve road safety in young people, the latter launches an online test allowing 12-17 year olds to better understand their risk behavior in traffic and personality traits likely to cause increased risk. The test consists of 25 simple questions about their attitude in traffic and risky behavior. After the test, young people receive a personalized risk profile and targeted advice to adopt safe behavior.