Today, traffic accidents are the number one cause of death for American teenagers. Other than speed, the second biggest culprit of these crashes is distracted driving, that is texting while driving. With the invention of cell phones and texting, keeping your eyes on the road has taken on a whole new meaning for teenagers in this country. But as a parent, there are some simple things that you can do to reduce the risk of your teen engaging in distracted driving.
Talk to your child
Earning a driver’s license comes with a tremendous sense of responsibility that often a teenager at 16 years old can’t comprehend. It is your duty as the parent to teach them what being a responsible driver means. Talk to your teen about the dangers of driving while texting. Explain the risks of this type of driving. Show them videos of teens who survived a distracted driving car crash. Or talk to them about your own experiences with texting and driving. The important thing is to open the dialogue about the dangers of this type of activity.
Take the pledge
Some parents have gone one step beyond talking to their teen about responsible driving. They’ve asked their young drivers to sign a family pledge promising not to text while driving a car. Part of that pledge could include putting their cell phone in the glove box while the car is in motion. Whatever guidelines you feel need to be created so that you can ensure your teen is driving safely, put them in writing and have them sign the pledge. Most importantly, reinforce that pledge.
Know the law
Many states have slowly started to implement cell-phone-while-driving laws to protect drivers and passengers alike. In some areas of the country there are Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) laws that outline cell phone and texting regulations for teenaged drivers. Learn what the laws are in your state and make sure your teen is aware of them too. There can be very stiff penalties for young drivers caught texting while driving both from the law and from insurers. Also, check with a trusted and reliable insurer like Northeast Insurance Agency to make sure you are aware of the penalties of driving while texting.
Now that you know how to address the issue of texting while driving with your teenager, get started! Your child’s safety, that of their passengers, and other drivers is dependent upon it. Awareness is key!
