It is an age-old stereotype that teenagers and young people are more likely to get into a distracted driving accident than their veteran counterparts.
Teenage distracted driving statistics reported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) indicate that 39% of teenagers say they were texting at some point while driving, a huge factor in the 2,763 teen drivers that died behind the wheel in 2016.
This is a problem for worried parents that must be solved. Below are 12 ways you can encourage your teen driver to drive distraction-free and keep them alive and driving safely long after you are gone.
1 – Buy a Vehicle With Facial Recognition Software
You should think about purchasing one of the many modern safety features on cars and trucks, such as vehicles that have facial recognition software that alerts the driver when their eyes are not on the road by sounding an alarm.
2 – Tell Them to Put Their Phone on Silent
It may not always work, but encourage your teen to put their phone on silent mode while they are driving to ensure that they won’t be tempted to check a text message or phone call while behind the wheel.
3 – Don’t Allow for More Than One Other Person in the Vehicle
Studies show that people of any age are more likely to get into a car wreck if there are many passengers in the vehicle with them. Teens tend to have a lot of friends, and it is your parenting duty not to allow them to leave the house with more than one person at a time. Thankfully, some states don’t even allow teens to drive with several people in the car for a few years.
4 – Drive Them Yourself to a Big Event
High school is full of dances, sporting events, and fun. Nerves leading up to these excursions could lead to distracted driving, so always drive your kid to wherever they are going if it is a noteworthy trip.
5 – Remind Them That Accidents Can Get Their License Revoked
Learning how to drive and getting your license is exciting. Use this as motivation for your teen and remind them that getting into a distracted driving accident could lead to their prized new license being revoked.
6 – Get Your Teen Wireless Talking Technology
Think about buying a Bluetooth headset or another similar device to encourage hands-free communication on the road. You know they want to talk, so this is the next best thing to no phones in the car.
7 – Take Out the Radio
Music blaring in the background can be a major distracted driving risk. Think about taking the radio out of the vehicle before your teen uses it.
8 – Install a Call-Blocking App
There are now many applications on cellphones that parents can download that block calls and messages while the phone senses a car is in motion. This is one of the hardest strategies for teens to get around.
9 – Don’t Call Them While They Are Driving
You can’t guarantee your teen won’t get other calls, but you can always ensure you won’t call them or text them when they are driving if you know they have left the house.
10 – Be a Passenger in Their Car
You can stop your teen from texting or other distractions if you attempt to ride along in the passenger seat as much as possible. The Motorcycle Safety Lawyers add that if you see your teenager is riding a motorcycle, practice having a passenger in a safe place, like a parking lot, and ensure you’re all wearing protective clothing and helmets.
11 – Get Them Their Proper Sleep
Sleep deprivation is a major reason for distracted driving. If you can’t stay awake, you shouldn’t be driving. Set a bedtime for your kid so they are sufficiently rested.
12 – Don’t Let Them Drive at Night
Young drivers already have night driving restrictions while they are learning, but these should be continued after they have graduated from their driver’s ed classes, too. If needed, teach your children safe night-driving tips.
Shawn Laib writes and researches for the car insurance comparison site, CarInsurance.org. He cares about keeping young drivers and their families safe behind the wheel.
