What to do about Teen Texting and Driving

We’ve all seen it before – someone typing on their phone while they’re driving. However there is one age group that appears to text and drive much more than any other. Teenagers!

A recent study showed that one in four teens who have a driver’s license have admitted that they have texted while driving, and more than half of teens who are aged between 12 and 17 say they’ve been in a car with a driver who has.

The sad thing is that even though teenagers know that it is dangerous to use a cell phone and drive at the same time, they still do it because they feel staying connected to their friends is more important than safety.

The Dangers

If you text and drive, the results are horrifying. Car accidents are the number one killer of young drivers, and can seriously injure or kill more than 6000 people in just one year. So why do they continue to use their mobile devices while driving? Experts say it is the mix of inexperienced driving and bad decisions.

The Solutions

So, what can we do to help teenagers see the dangers of texting and driving?

Some are going to extremes, like the graphic car crash video released in the UK, however there are less shocking ways to show teens how to stay safe while driving...

-- Drivers who are inexperienced should only drive during the day, on roads that they know and without any passengers who could distract them.

-- Always try to be a positive role model and follow all the rules of the road, never use electronic devices while driving and be courteous to others who are driving.

-- Talk to your teen about the dangers of texting and driving, car crashes and how to prevent them.

-- Discuss the importance of always wearing your seatbelt, the dangers of night driving and driving with other teen passengers that  could be a distraction.

-- Make a parent-teen agreement with your teen. Print it out and have both of you sign it.

Texting and driving is one of the most dangerous things that a person can do, you need to be the one to teach your teen not to do it! 

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