Survey Uncovers Disconnect between Parents' Perceptions of Teens' Driving Habits and Actual On-the-Road Behavior
IRVINE, Calif.--Sept. 18, 2002--Although teenagers are involved in three times as many fatal crashes as all drivers,(1) nearly half of the parents surveyed in a recent Autobytel online poll(2) expressed confidence in their own children's driving habits. When asked what bothers them most about their teens' driving, 44% of those surveyed responded that their teens are generally responsible drivers -- with 20% indicating that none of their kids' driving habits is a source of concern. Notably, only 4% of those surveyed identified drinking and driving as their top teen driving worry. Drinking and driving is, in fact, the number one killer of young people(3), and 43% of teens who participated in a recent clinical study said they'd either driven while intoxicated or ridden in a car with a driver who'd been drinking or using drugs(4).
The survey also confirms that buying a car for a teen, what could be a fun rite of passage, all too often opens up a Pandora's box of stress and anxiety. This tension is, in part, fueled by conflicting car-shopping priorities, with teens generally focused on the "fun factor" (looks, image and styling) and parents much more concerned with the "fear factor" (economy, reliability -- and particularly safety).
Thirty-six percent of the parents surveyed indicated that their biggest priorities when shopping for their teens' car or truck are "safety features" (airbags, ABS brakes, etc.). Twenty-four percent, meanwhile, indicated "reliability" and 17% indicated "low price/affordability." When asked to name their teens' top vehicle priorities, on the other hand, a full 64% of survey takers cited "looks, image, styling," with only 5% indicating "safety features," 6% indicating "reliability," and 12% indicating "price/affordability."
An additional finding reveals that the vast majority of parents believe the Internet is the best remedy for bridging this parent/teen car-buying divide -- and finding the best overall car in terms of safety, styling and price. In fact, a full 88% indicated that researching online together with their teens would either "definitely" or "probably" help them make a more informed car-buying decision.
Autobytel Launches "Teen Driving and Buying Guide"
"If you're in the throes of the age-old parent/teen `car wars,' you should check out the Autobytel websites," said Autobytel Inc. President and CEO Jeffrey Schwartz. "The survey sheds light on some of the sources of conflict between parents and teens when it comes to car-buying and driving; and we've responded with some of the web's best resources for families to explore safe-driving issues together and to find information that will provide `conflict resolution' when purchasing that elusive first car that everyone can feel good about."
Autobytel's new "Teen Driving and Buying Guide" -- available at Autobytel.com, AutoWeb.com, and CarSmart.com -- offers expert tips on how to promote safer teen driving, and what to look for when shopping for a teen's first car. To this end, the Guide reveals some of the best "teen cars," in terms of safety, quality and reliability, flexibility and utility, style and performance -- all broken down into detailed price categories by Autobytel's automotive experts.
Parents and kids can also log on to www.carsmart.com to take "The Pledge" to drive safely and courteously on neighborhood streets, and to access comprehensive safe driving tips, information and web links. Autobytel's 2002 New Vehicle Safety Guide, available on all three sites, provides additional insider advice on buying a safer car, plus comprehensive vehicle, tire safety and recall information and expert safe driving pointers.
For the full survey results visit the "Teen Driving and Buying Guide" under the "research" section at www.autobytel.com, www.autoweb.com or www.carsmart.com.
About Autobytel Inc.
Autobytel Inc. , a leading Internet automotive marketing services company, helps retailers sell cars and manufacturers build brands through marketing and CRM (customer relationship management) programs. Autobytel Inc. owns and operates the popular websites Autobytel.com, Autoweb.com, Carsmart.com and Autosite.com, as well as AIC (Automotive Information Center), a leading provider of automotive marketing data and technology. Autobytel Inc. generated an estimated four percent of all domestic new vehicle sales -- $17 billion in car sales in 2001 -- for dealers through its websites. Autobytel Inc. is the largest syndicated car-buying content network, reaching millions of unique visitors as they are making their vehicle buying decisions. Autobytel Inc. content and technology has potential exposure to over 90 percent of total web traffic(5).
(1) According to the National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration (NHTSA)
(2) Survey conducted on Autobytel car-buying sites Autobytel.com,
Carsmart.com and Autoweb.com from 8/7/02-8/15/02
(3) According to S.A.D.D. (Students Against Drunk Driving)
(4) HealthScoutNews report 6/14/2002
(5) Jupiter Media Metrix October 2001 Digital Media Audience
Report (Autobytel Inc. sites is the unduplicated audience of
the Autobytel and Autoweb properties and Carsmart.com. The
car-buying and ownership category as defined by Autobytel.
Autobytel Inc. provides content to Yahoo! Inc., AOL websites,
MSN.com and Lycos.com. The unduplicated audience of these four
sites accounts for over 90 percent of total traffic.)
