Setting the wrong example for our kids texting & driving
Yep, teens are aware that it's dangerous to text and drive but they continue to do it anyway.
According to an online survey of 1,200 teens aged 15-19 which was conducted by AT&T 43% of teens admitted to texting while driving.
And, it is very likely that there was some under-reporting going on here. An even higher percentage -75% of these teens reported that their friends engaged in this same sort of multitasking.
Related: Sexting: You Can Do Something About It
These high numbers of this type of simultaneous activity-texting and driving-are of particular concern during the summer.
Teens spend significantly more time driving between Memorial Day and Labor Day than during the school year when they are safely ensconced (we hope) in their chairs in their classrooms rather than in the driver's seats of their cars.
So, what can parents do to make the summers safer for their teen drivers? The more accurate question is what parents should not do.
It appears that parents are modeling unsafe driving habits for their teen drivers. Apparently, 77% of the teens surveyed by AT&T had some additional observations. They reported that the very same adults who warn them against texting and driving do it as well.
Related: Texting Etiquette for Kids and their Parents
Yikes. We certainly don't need the results of a survey to know that adults use their cell phones while driving. Just take a short drive and look at the driver in front of you and behind you and there is a good chance that at least one if not both drivers will be engaging in some poorly thought out behavior. I hope that you are not one of them.
Next time you are on your way to a destination and remember that you forgot to tell someone something important please try to exercise restraint. Remember that the life you save may not only be your own but may be your teen's as well.
Here's to a safe and lovely summer!
Check out my new web site for further teen and parenting tips!
More from GalTime:
- Teens and Dating: Choose Your Words Carefully
- Nice Girls Finish First... Eventually
- Top 5 Conversations to Have with Your College-Bound Teen
- New Tools Offered for Online Safety
Barbara Greenberg and Jennifer Powell-Lunder are authors of the hit book, "Teenage as a Second Language: A Parent's Guide to Becoming Bilingual." They've set up an interactive website for parents and teens to listen, learn and discuss hot topics and daily dilemmas. You can find it at www.talkingteenage.com.
