One of the teen issues that is most concerning for parents is distracted driving. Letting go enough to allow kids to get behind the wheel has always been a challenge for parents, but in the modern age, it’s more terrifying than ever. Thanks to the distraction of smart phones, more of our kids are getting hurt or hurting someone else on the road.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has reported that up to 71 percent of teens have admitted to texting while driving, and an even scarier 86 percent confess they have read text messages while at the wheel. If parents don’t continue to work on explaining the dangers to their kids, the problem will only get worse.
Set the Tone for a Serious Conversation
Parents always face challenges when attempting to talk to their kids about teen issues, especially distracted driving. Kids tend to both feel invincible and automatically get annoyed whenever a parent tries to lecture them, which is why it’s important to approach the subject carefully if you want to make an impact. Watch your tone to ensure you’re coming across as loving and not scolding.
It’s also helpful to personalize the conversation. Instead of talking about statistics that might be meaningless to a teen, ask how he or she might feel if a boyfriend, girlfriend or friend ended up paralyzed or permanently disfigured as a result of a car accident.
Check out Online Videos and Stories with Your Teens
There are a number of resources online that may be able to help. Sometimes, teens understand the message better when it doesn’t come from their parents. Check out The Faces of Distracted Driving, a website with sad stories about those who have lost their lives due to a split second’s worth of distraction. Reenactments can also be quite powerful, such as this student film that clearly demonstrates the horrors that can occur as a result of texting. For more sobering videos, simply search “texting while driving” on Youtube.
Be a Good Example
A lot of people lump texting while driving in with other teen issues, but unfortunately, many adults do it as well. If you’ve ever used your phone while on the road, make the commitment to stop now. Your kids look up to you more than you might think, and this is one issue where there isn’t any room for negotiation. Provide the best example you can for your teens, and your influence will go far.
