Healthy Perspectives - Summer 2018 - 5

GETTING THROUGH TO TEENS ON

Distracted
Driving
6 ways to help your
young driver stay safe

I

t's a thought that makes parents
shudder: teen drivers and phones,
together, behind the wheel. But it's
not just phones that lead to distracted driving. And though you might
not always be in the car with your teen,
you can still help him or her make
smart choices.
David Hill, M.D., chairman of the
American Academy of Pediatrics
Council on Communications and
Media, offers these tips to stop distracted driving:

1

Set a good example.

"If your teen is watching you drive
and text, email or pick up the phone,
you can't say, 'This is OK for me but
not for you,'" Hill says. "Turn the phone
over to your passenger, and if someone calls, texts or emails, say, 'You're
my secretary.'"

2Draft a contract.

"Contracts can be effective, especially when teens are involved in making them," Hill says. Contracts give the
opportunity to talk about consequences.

If your teen texts and drives, will he or
she lose driving privileges? Phone privileges? Both?
Be sure to cover the range of potential distractions, including using a
phone, having too many people in the
car, applying makeup and having the
music too loud.

3Talk about challenges.

Ask your teens what they would say
and do if they were riding with a friend
who was texting while driving. Would
they feel safe? Understanding the situation from the other side can give them a
new perspective.

4Enlist technology.

Your cellphone might offer a "driving mode" that disables the phone when
it detects driving speeds. For example,

Apple built this feature into a recent
system update for its phones.

with your
5Check
insurance company.

Some companies have tips and tools
to help limit distractions and make it
easier for parents to monitor teens'
driving behavior. You might even get a
lower rate if your teen completes a safedriving course.

6Know the laws.

Many states have regulations
against texting and driving, and violators can lose their permit or license.
Impress upon your teen that not only is
distracted driving unsafe, but it's also
against the law. 1

KEEP YOUR NEW DRIVER SAFE
Discover more driving safety tips at dmv.org.

DOWNLOAD and print a safe-driving contract for your teen at enddd.org

5


http://www.dmv.org http://www.enddd.org

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