Driving Psychology 409a 9/28/06

The Effect of the Media on Teen Driving

By Rhiannon Tokita

Instructions for this activity are found at:

Citations:

Leon James (2006). Drivers Behaving Badly on TV (DBB Ratings). Online at: http://www.drdriving.org/articles/dbb.htm

Staff (2003). Teen Drivers Lack Good Role Models. The Christian Science Monitor. Online at: http://www.csmonitor.com/2003/0604/p13s01-lihc.html?s=widep

I. Children exposed to bad driving

A. Even before children become drivers they are exposed to bad driving in the media.

1. Movies- for example: Clueless, Ace Ventura, and Rush Hour

2. Cartoons- for example: Road Runner, Animaniacs, and Looney Toons

3. Commercials- for example: Toyota, Honda, and Budget Rent a Car

B. The children could benefit from discussing what they are viewing.

II. Drivers Behaving Badly activity

A. Children evaluate what they see while they are watching television

B. Children watch the television program and note the bad driving that is observed.

C. An evaluation of the bad driving is done and discussed

D. Teachers can incorporate this activity into their curriculum

III. Teen Drivers Lack Good Role Models

A. Southern California teens ages 15-18 are less concerned with risky driving

1. Behavior such as drunken driving and drag racing.

2. Teens viewed speeding as going 93 miles an hour, but not 88 miles an hour.

B. Factors that contribute to risky driving

1. Video games

2. Movies

3. Driving of family and friends