Cell phones are everywhere these days. We may be hard pressed to find a teenager without one and texting is a popular communication method. Much media attention of late is being devoted to the dangers of texting and driving. But are teens really getting the message? A 2012 State Farm survey suggests they may not.
In the survey 57% of 14 to 17 year old teens agreed that regularly drinking and driving can have deadly affects, but only 35% thought they would get the same results by regularly texting and driving. These results are troubling when research shows that texting or drinking while driving are equally as dangerous. Results of this survey also showed 57 % of these teens admitted they text while driving.
While this information is very troubling, the survey found some helpful information. The teens that said they do not text while driving reported having frequent conversations with their parents about safe driving. But the survey also showed that these conversations were mostly with drivers who had a learners permit. Once teens received their license, discussions about safety decreased. Since it is these conversations that help curb the texting problem, Chris Mullen, Director of Technology Research at State Farm, stressed the importance of parents continuing to talk about safe and responsible driving habits long after a teen earns his or her license.
At Parents LEAD we have and will continue to support parent involvement as a way to keep young drivers safe at home and on the road. So if it has been a while, have a conversation about texting and driving with your teen today. But please make sure to not text the message!
What examples are you setting for your teens and young children regarding texting and driving? Post your thoughts and ideas here for keeping your teens safe on the road.