3 Tips to Deter Your Teen From Being One of 56% Who Talk While Driving

A survey of teen drivers revealed that 56% of them admitted to talking on the phone while driving. Adding distracted driving into the mix of being a new driver is a recipe for disaster. Studies have shown that 20% of new teen drivers are involved in an accident during their first year of driving. Participating in distracted driving activities decreases your reaction time which can result in being involved in an accident. Here are some of the ways that you can deter your teen from talking while driving and becoming another statistic.

Make a Safe Driving Policy

Develop a safe driving contract with your teenager. Explain to them the risks that are involved with using the phone while driving. As a part of this contract, consider including a seat belt clause. If they were to be involved in an accident, the seat belt could save their life. You may want to put stipulations in the contract about having their phone in the glovebox or trunk while they’re driving. This may remove the temptation for them to quickly check their phone when they receive a message.

Download Lockout Software

There are lots of software programs that can be installed on smart phones. They’re designed to lock the phone so that it can’t be used while the car is moving. Many of these programs send an automated text response to notify the sender that your teen is driving. Some programs may allow you to track your teen’s cell phone usage so that you can keep better tabs on them. You could see if they were overriding the software and using their phone at an inappropriate time. This could be grounds for them to lose their driving privileges.

Offer Financial Incentives

Your auto insurance company may offer you and your teen a financial incentive to avoid distracted driving activities. This may be the push that your teen needs in order to be more responsible with their cell phone usage. Ask your agent if this is something that they offer. You may be able to show your agent the steps that you’ve taken to avoid texting and driving. If your teen violates this agreement, you may want to ask them to pay the difference in the insurance premium. This could help them to be more responsible for their behavior.

Another good step to take to help your teen is to lead by example. If you’re willing to follow the rules, your teen will be more likely to fall in line.