Are multi-tasking teens at risk?

Author: Gina Roberts-Grey

Cruising at forty-five miles per hour with his windows rolled down and favorite CD playing, your teen reaches for his ringing cell phone. As he rolls up to a stop sign, he’s enthralled in a conversation with his best friend concerning their plans for the evening. Not noticing an oncoming car is in the process of turning in front of him, your teen narrowly escapes getting into an accident.

Cell phones have the propensity to be major distractions that cause teens multi tasking while driving to lose their perspective of the road. A heated conversation may impair his judgment and emotions, while a silly conversation can cause him to lose his perspective. Although he may be ready to be in control of a motor vehicle, is your teen equipped with trigger finger reactions that he can access at a moments notice while talking on a cell phone?

According to statistics gathered by Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, teenagers have more crashes than drivers in other age brackets. The statistics also caution that teens are most at risk during the first two years of driving.

A teen’s drivers license gives him more than the legal ability to operate a vehicle. It is a license to be responsible for his safety and the safety of all on the road around him. The driver’s education classes and hours spent on the road with you repeated the need for extreme care behind the wheel, but the lure of a teen driver’s new found independence often causes a temporary loss of memory.

The IIHS states that in 2002, 5,933 teenagers died in the United States from motor vehicle crash injuries. Teen drinking and driving contributes heavily to the frequency of teen accidents. The use and distraction of cell phones while teens are driving is adding to the already high numbers with an alarming rate.

Make a proactive call

Have a productive discussion with him about the dangers of driving while talking on the phone before an accident occurs. Putting the situation into terms he can understand will help you convey your message. Hit your teen where he’ll feel it the most. “If you’re not paying attention to the road, I’m taking away your license.” “If you spend too much time on the phone while you’re driving, you’re going to exceed your minutes and have to pay the extra charge” Whatever method it takes to get your teen’s attention, make sure he grasps your sense of urgency for his safety.

Don’t under exaggerate the potential dangers of taking his eyes off the road to search for his ringing cell phone. Alerting him of the potential dangers as well as consequences drives your point home.

Set a good example

We have become a cellular dependant society. The convenience of ordering a pizza on the run and phoning your partner to ask them to stop for a last minute errand is relied upon to save busy families time. It is tough for your teen to take your cautioning seriously if he sees you always talking on the phone while driving.

As difficult as it may be to break your habits, if you want your teen to exercise cautious care when driving, you need to model the behavior you want him to practice. If you expect him to pull over before placing a call, show him you respect your own rules by doing so as well. If he’s not supposed to dial while moving, make sure you don’t break your own safety rules to place a call. Adjusting your multi tasking ways may be trying at first, but as you instill good examples, remember you’re also increasing your level of safety as well.

Establish your boundaries

Determine what you’re comfortable with and clearly communicate your rules and expectations to prevent an unpleasant scene later on. You may feel comfortable with him using the cell phone while he’s driving around the neighborhood, but not when he’s on busier main arteries. You may allow him to carry his cell phone, but require him to pull over safely to place a call. Some parents only allow their children to answer calls from home while driving and others prohibit any calls taking place while the key is in the ignition.

Equally important as defining your boundaries, is adhering to them. Remember that even though he’s growing up, your teen is still a child who requires concise limits and consistency to help him learn to function within those limits. Making an exception for him to ‘make a quick call’ or if he ‘didn’t realize he wasn’t supposed to be on the phone while he was driving on that street’ doesn’t send a consistent message. It tells him he can manipulate a situation to his advantage if he’s caught breaking your rules.

When in doubt – Check it out

If you’re concerned he’s not following your guidelines, don’t be afraid to match the phone call log to the hours he spent driving. Although checking up on your teen can be a disconcerting task, it can be the difference between checking in on him in the emergency room or not.

Ask him if he’s been on the phone while driving. If he spends a great deal of time running errands, ask neighbors or friends if they’ve seen him on the road. Establish a safe coalition of parents and convey your expectations to the parents of his friends.

It is important to trust your instincts. If you are concerned about your teenager’s driving practices, don’t hesitate to take action. When he arrives home safely, you’ll be glad you did.

For additional tips on keeping your teen driver safe, please visit: Insurance Institute for Highway Safety www.highwaysafety.org • Drive home safe www.drivehomesafe.com