Distracted driving puts all motorists who share the road in danger. According to The Balance, 1,000 people are injured as a result of distracted driving on a daily basis. Additionally, 58% of the crashes involving teens include some element of distracted driving. This is an important factor to keep in mind; distracted driving is more than just texting behind the wheel.
In fact, most distracted driving incidents involving teens occur due to passenger distractions, as opposed to mobile device usage. There are many different types of distracted driving, all of which pull the driver’s focus away from the road. This includes eating behind the wheel, applying makeup, watching movies or tv, reading, adjusting a GPS, and talking on a hands-free device. While hands-free is touted as a safer alternative, it’s still considered a distraction since your mind won’t fully be on the task at hand.
Parents must take steps to prevent their teens from driving while distracted. Many parents restrict the number of passengers a teen can have in a vehicle to ensure distractions are kept to a minimum. It also helps to explain the consequences of distracted driving from several different perspectives. For instance, explain that driving while distracted can incur increased costs for insurance. It may also result in a lost license if too many violations are accumulated.
Also, emphasize that driving while distracted endangers your teen as well as other drivers. Encourage them to only message friends before they set off or when the vehicle is safely parked. If you also partake in distracted behaviors, take steps to stop them right away. Your teen looks to you for guidance, and if you’re setting a bad example, he or she is more likely to follow suit.