Last summer I wrote about our experience with a crash involving distracted driving. As a refresher, teens were in the car, which was going far too quickly through our housing development and crashed while trying to take a curve. The car went airborne through several yards, including ours. My daughter knew some of the kids involved in the accident and I am thankful that she was home at the time, instead of in the car with them.
Talk About Distracted Driving With Your Kids
Because of the dangers that distracted driving can cause to those in the car as well as those around, the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons and the Auto Alliance want to increase awareness about the risks of distracted driving. Knowledge is power and the Decide to Drive program aims to empower drivers and passengers to speak up about distracted driving. This should be a conversation that everyone is comfortable starting whether at home or work. Conversations and awareness are what can significantly lessen distracted behaviors behind the wheel.
Since the car crash, we have had many conversations about distracted driving with our daughter. She had a permit at the time but now she is a licensed driver and her safety means more to us than anything else in the world. Because of this, we always try to keep the lines of communication open. We want her to know that she can call us anytime she feels that she is in a situation that might be dangerous. Kids need to know that they can ask for help.
Distracted Driving Statistics
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), of the nearly 33,000 roadway fatalities in 2012, there were 3,328 fatalities and approximately 421,000 injuries in distracted driving-related crashes.
This is scary. Orthopaedic surgeons {bone specialists} don’t want to put bones back together after a crash. They want you safe, too.If all drivers “Decide To Drive” each time they get in the car then perhaps we everyone could keep their bones and limbs intact.
As the driver of a vehicle, you are the person responsible for keeping yourself, those in the car, and those around you safe. That’s a job that you should take seriously, and something that you should stress to your teens. Remember, you lead by example. Tell your teens to keep their attention and eyes on the road and their hands on the wheel at all times.
It could save a life.
Decide to Drive Catchphrase Contest
The Decide To Drive Catchphrase Contest will run May 30 – June 13, 2014. I will add more info to this post about it closer to the start date.
I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls Collective and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.
View Comments (39)
Teen driving is so perilous. Untrained, and now in this age, distracted. Drivers Ed and a level head can go a long way!
Yikes! That picture is so scary. I bet it was definitely an eye opener. It's hard not to be a distracted driver as a mom, but I do my best to keep focused.
My stepson is in drivers ed right now and it's really scary to think that kids are out on the roads - they almost don't seem mature enough.
That scary picture is necessary to illustrate what can happen. We were recently in LA with someone who was looking at her phone too much while driving. People just don;t get it, but I thank-you for the reminder!
Mitch
I know that parts of South Carolina now have laws against distracted driving (no texting/talking on your phone, even messing with your GPS violates their laws.) North Carolina has laws against texting, but did you realize that doing Facebook or Twitter on your phone while driving wasn't part of that law? (I don't know if that's the case now.) It's pretty scary, and I hope teens will take this seriously. Distracted driving is so dangerous!!
Wow! I did not know that about the North Carolina laws {and I love there}. It would be interesting to see if that is still the case.
A boy in our tiny town was killed in the wee hours of May 10. The photos of the car are horrific. Cody died immediately. The boy in the back is due to go home any day now. The driver? Likely to lose his legs. His legs were bent and his bones were sticking out when they found him. Hopefully it helps remind other kids that driving distracted is never ever worth it :(
Such an important topic to cover...for teens and older drivers.
I see more and more adults that could use a talk about this too. More and more places are banning texting and driving. It's a conversation that needs to be had.
You are correct. It is not just teens. I used to work with someone that texted the entire time she drove. It was terrifying.
Distracted driving is a scary thing. I was a victim of a distracted driver earlier this year and it was by far the worst experience I have ever been in. Its so scary and I wish that more people took it seriously.
I hope that you are doing much better now. I am sorry for your experience.
I was just thinking today about how scary driving can be as a teen. I hope that I can instill a fear/understanding in my kids about staying focused. All we can do is raise responsible children!