Have you ever wondered how serious of a problem distracted driving really is? According to the American Automobile Association (AAA), distracted driving causes approximately 8,000 car accidentsevery day in the United States. That means drivers are spending about half their time behind the wheel paying attention to things other than driving, said a AAA spokesperson.
Teen drivers are particular susceptible to distracted driving habits. Young drivers came of age in an era of technology and do not recall a time where there were no cell phones. As children, they observed their parents using a cell phone while driving, and they think it is a part of driving. However, as a parent you can do some things to set a better example for the young driver in your family.
- Turn off your cell phone in the car – keep it in the backseat of somewhere else out of reach to avoid temptation
- If you have a passenger in the car, designate him or her to answer your phone when it rings
- Never eat or apply makeup while you are driving
- If you need to look at a map for directions, pull the car over to do it.
Let your teen driver know that distractions are not tolerated in the car, and that includes noisy passengers. Ideally, the young driver in your family will do what he or she observes you do behind the wheel.
Harrell & Nowak, L.L.C. – New Orleans injury attorneys