AAA Study Finds What Distracts Teen Drivers Most Often

By Jim Melwert

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - A new study out from AAA takes a look at distracted teen-aged drivers -- and at what's distracting them.

Car crashes are the leading cause of death for American teenagers.

And AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety spokeswoman Carol Ronis says this study finds girls twice as likely as boys to be distracted by electronic devices.

"And electronic devices among the entire group of teens that were looked were observed to be the most distracted device used."

It found teens who used electronic devices were three-times as likely to take their eyes off the road, often long enough to travel the length of a football without looking up.

Boys were more likely to turn around in their seats while driving, or to communicate with people outside of the vehicle.

The study finds distracted driving is more of a problem with older teens, who tend to feel more confident behind the wheel.