How to Talk to Your Kids about Distracted Driving and Car Safety
Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for U.S. teens, and one of the reasons for these crashes is distracted driving. Distracted driving is gravely serious. Nearly 3,500 people died in 2015 as a result of distracted driving, with almost 400,000 injured.
What is Distracted Driving?
Distracted driving is any time your eyes are taken off of the road, including:
- Reaching for your phone
- Changing music
- Using an app
- Checking your GPS or map
- Taking a photo
- Checking email or posting to social media sites
- Eating and drinking
- Putting on makeup/grooming
What Can You Do as a Parent?
Model Good Behavior
Kids learn behavior from watching their parents, so make sure you are leading by example. End your own bad habits, including any aggressive driving, speeding, failing to signal or tailgating. Always pull over to make a text or a phone call. Have someone else navigate the trip or change the music. Always wear your seatbelt.
Driver’s Education
Choose a quality Driver’s Education class for your child to attend with low student-to-teacher ratio. Familiarize yourself with the curriculum and ask your teenager what they think about what they’ve learned.
Smartphone Apps
Many apps are available as anti-distraction measures. Here are some that the DMV recommends:
- LifeSaver: uses GPS monitoring and a rewards system to help drivers break bad habits.
- AT&T DriveMode: blocks any phone talking or texting and driving.
- TrueMotion Family: gives you a driving score for your drive and pinpoints when your driving may have been distracted.
- Mojo: tracks your trips, scores your driving, and gives you a chance to win prizes.
Join Our Safety Campaign #RefuseToLose
Both you and your teenager can make a pledge to not multi-task behind the wheel in Farm Bureau Insurance’s Refuse To Lose campaign.
How to Participate:
- Commit to NO multi-tasking behind the wheel.
- Take a picture of what you “refuse to lose” and post it to social media using #RefuseToLose.
- Invite five friends to take the challenge.
Why five? On average, texting drivers take their eyes off the road for five seconds while distracted. (In five seconds, a car traveling 55 mph goes the length of a football field.)
Worried about your teenager who is about to start driving? Rest easier with a great auto policy from Southern Farm Bureau Casualty Insurance Company. Contact a local agent to learn more.