Texticle Alert: Your Next Text Could Kill a Kid!

As cell phones become more popular on the road, driving tragedies involving teenagers text messaging while behind the wheel have increased in frequency. Parents need to take steps to prevent dangerous driving distractions.

To help keep your teen safe while they are in the car, Students Against Destructive Decisions recommends parents follow these guidelines for teaching their kids about driving distractions.

• Know and enforce your state’s Graduated Driver License laws and restrictions, including unsupervised driving, time of day and passengers in the car.
• Sign a teen driving contract such as SADD’s Contract for Life

• Set family driving rules with clear consequences for breaking the rules. SADD recommends rules such as:
  • No alcohol or drug use
  • No cell phone use, including text messaging
  • No driving after 10 p.m.
  • Keep two hands on the wheel — no eating, changing CDs, handling iPods or other activities while driving
  • Limit or restrict friends in the car without an adult
• Follow your own family’s rules. Your teen will follow your driving example, so be sure you are keeping your own rules.

For more information about the dangers of texting while driving, read RTM's full article.