Senior Citizens, what are the biggest hazards when driving in traffic with younger people?

In addition to cells and texting, I've seen some drivers, regardless of age:

Looking off-road/turning their head from side-to-side

Looking at their passenger while talking-which means they're not paying attention to what's ahead

Hitting their brakes when nothing's in front of them

Inconsistent speed (slow-fast-slow-fast)

Playing around with either something in the glove compartment/radio/passenger seat

Skipping across lanes

Change lanes w/o signaling.

Backing out of a parking lot w/o looking, when I've got the right-of-way.

Fling open their (driver's side) door w/o looking for incoming traffic first

The seemingly overall attitude? "As long as I can get away with it, and don't cause an accident, what are you going to do about it?"

It's illegal to text message while driving, and here in Texas (U.S.), if a person is caught using a cell phone or texting while in a school zone, there is a $250 fine. Young people think they can multitask, so they eat, use their phones, carry on conversations with passengers, and play music so loud their cars are shaking at stop lights. I try to stay out of the fast lane, and I use a wide rear view mirror (clips on over the regular one). I also don't drive after dark. It seems like that's when the younger people tend to drive more erratically, because they've been to Happy Hour on their way home. It's not just teenage drivers here--they're actually safer than the ones in their 20's and 30's. Thank goodness we have good public transportation here. When in bad weather or if a person isn't feeling well, that's the way to go. Don't take a chance.

Seems the general opinion is cell phones are a dangerous mix when driving. I was involved in an accident because the driver (yes a young person) was talking on her cell phone, ran a red light, and slammed into me as I drove across the intersection. To make matters worse, she did not have insurance which is against the law but so is talking on the phone while driving. We were all very lucky not to have been injured and I feel like this young lady has learned her lesson. I hope so because she had 2 young children in the car with her that day.

Texting has to be one of the biggest issues among teen drivers today. In our state it is illegal to do so. Now there are other issues rising up with even dialing a cell phone. To me it is in the same category as texting. It takes away your concentration while punching in numbers, even if it is a speed dial number. Where do you draw the line? I was guilty of answering my cell phone when it rang, but now wait until I am safely able to do so and not at others expense. I like the new vehicles which allow voice activated calls. It is no different than carrying on a conversation with someone that is riding in the vehicle with you, and allows you to keep your hands on the steering wheel. Unfortunately, not everyone will have this new technology in their older vehicles.The texting is definitely a problem. People also know it is illegal to drink and drive, yet they continue to do so. I'm not sure what the answer to this dilemma will be.

I too can't stand anyone driving while using a cell phone, even those hands free ones take your mind off of driving.

My son is a younger driver and I know I often have to close my eyes and say a silent prayer when I am his passenger.

He doesn't use the cell phone but he has some bad driving habits.

He follows too close, cuts people off and drives too fast, his sometimes doesn't wear his glasses and it appars that he is too close to the curbs when he turns.It is a nightmare to be in the car with him.

I don't usually drive with him because I need a drink afterwards.

It weird because he comes from along line of pro drivers on his fathers side. My husband taught him to drive, maybe that's the only reason he still hasn't had a crash, I will keep my fingers crossed that is stays that way.

I did forget to mention he also blasts that techno music. I once borrowed his car not knowing that there was a time delay on his cd player. I was going along and BAM! I jumped in my seat the music was so loud.

Cell phone use while driving is against the law here where I live. I just wish the cops would hurry up and ticket these idiots before they kill someone!

My pet peeve are the young men riding motorcycles, who seem to think they are immune to the laws of physics! They weave in and out of traffic and often run up the dividing lines between lanes when traffic has slowed to a crawl...Obviously they have never crashed and found out just how painful that can be when there are no metal walls around you to take the impact!!!!

I also can't stand the young drivers in their sports cars who think nothing of weaving in and out of traffic dangerously just to get two or three cars ahead. I have been cut off way to close a couple of times by these. They seem to think they are entitled to act as they please on the roads and to heck with "rules" and "laws" governing the proper use of automobiles!

I don't know about in the USA but, here in the UK, it is illegal to use a mobile phone while driving. You can get a fine and points on your licence if caught. Mind you, that doesn't stop people from doing it. I often see it.

One bugbear I have about young drivers - not all, but some - they are very impatient. I always drive according to the speed limit in the area. Here, a lot of the streets are only 20mph because there is a school on that street. I have lost count of the times I am driving along and I have a young driver almost touching my bumper, desperate to overtake.

I was rear-ended (no damage thankfully) while stopping at a red light a couple years ago, I looked in the rear view mirror and the girl had her cell phone to her ear. They don't pay attention when they are talking or texting. My friend is still working and she said busy intersections surrounding the campus are very dangerous since the university started the new semester, and it's mostly young people on cell phones not paying attention to traffic.

We have a rapidly growing college nearby, that was originally built around its auto mechanics program. And the young men ( mostly out - of - staters ) who attend this school seem to think that the streets and roads in the area of the school are a raceway or a speedway. Law enforcement catches a few of them from time to time, but not nearly enough to deter them, in my opinion. I suppose it'll take a horrific accident before something is done about these morons. And yes, I can call them that, because I never drove like that when I was their age. If I had and my dad had found about it, he would've taken the keys to my car away from me !

And to the very first answerer, here, I don't wanna sound smug, but if your son continues the habits you've described, he, or another driver, or both will end up either seriously injured or killed. After all, I can't begin to count the number of times I've heard of this happening in my time.

We live near a high traffic area (one of the reasons Carney was defeated because he promised us a bypass for thirty years) and you can't believe all the accidents where people just drive into the backs of the car in front of them. Talking on cell phones and texting were never meant to be done while driving.