What is one of the biggest concerns for parents when it comes to teens and driving? Cell phone usage. According to the National Safety Council, over 1.2 million crashes in 2013 involved drivers talking on the phone. With over 340,000 of them involving texting.
So the question stands, how can you prevent your teen from being one of these statistics?
You can start by implementing “The 3 rules of safe cell phone usage, while driving.”
1. Complete any call or text before starting the car.
2. Get directions ahead of time, know your intended path of travel.
3. Set the “Do Not Disturb While Driving’ setting on on your teens phone to automatically turn on when the car is in motion. This will prevent any incoming calls and texts from sounding or flashing an alert.
And lastly, talk to your teen about the dangers of using their cell phone while driving. If they need to use their phone in the case of an emergency, make sure they know to pull over to a SAFE location and place the car in park before using their phone.
Always remember, it can wait.
For more driver safety tips, click here!
It can wait is such an important one! Or just pull over!
Thanks for supporting smarter drivers, safer roads!
The safest thing to do is put the phone away while you’re driving. Nothing is that important.
Or use the bluetooth so your hands are always free…but this can be dangerous anyway, especially when you’re young and you’re an inexperienced driver :/
These are great. No matter how much time goes by so many people still don’t understand how dangerous it can be.
Great suggestions! My husband has the “do not disturb I’m driving” lock on his phone, and I’m so glad about it!
That’s great Patricia…we love your suggestion.
My kids always get mad at me when we sit in the car not moving because I am getting everything set up on my phone before we leave. Oh well! too bad.
We are finding that because teens are so busy on their phones when riding with their parents/others, they miss learning routes, observing experienced drivers maneuvering the vehicle, and observing traffic signs and rules.
I tell students that if they feel they will be tempted to use their phone while driving, to put it in the trunk.
Great idea Ms. Faith…thanks for sharing!!