TUNKHANNOCK -- New research reveals that distracted driving is a much bigger problem than previously thought.
AAA released a new report that distractions played a factor in nearly six out of every 10 teen crashes; four times as many as originally thought.
"That's just amazing. It's too much," said Jackie Greenley of Tunkhannock. "From what I see if I'm driving down the highway, you see quite a bit of them looking down and know they're texting or on their phone."
Jimmy Fox of Throop spends 10 hours a day on the road for Dempsey Uniform & Linen Supply. And over the last 20 years, he's seen quite the difference in the dangers out there.
"Just from what I see on a daily basis, people [are] hardly even paying attention to driving," said Fox. "It's other things, fast-paced and watching their phones and texting away."
Officers say it's not just texting that's distracted driving.
"It could be from the radio, talking to other people, and eating food," said Cpl. Walter Koehler, State Police.
But Corporal Koehler says most of those distracted crashes come from teens and their phones.
"They're used to the cell phone and texting, and multitasking," he added. "Except driving a car, that's a new feature for them, and they just take everything for granted. 15-20 years ago, the cell phone wasn't in existence and it didn't have the capabilities to send and receive text message."