Text Messaging And Driving

Text messaging and driving has been an issue that has concerned parents for some time now. The concern is not only due to the potential risk to other drivers on the road but also due to the increased risk of a motor vehicle accident while someone is using their cell phone. Studies have shown that text messaging is one of the leading causes of accidents along busy highways and in congested cities. Unfortunately it is also a dangerous distraction. If you are a parent with young children, you need to be sure that you are keeping this in mind. 

Texting while driving can put your young children in danger if you are not aware of the dangers. Many younger drivers do not even realize what they are doing. All they are doing is typing away on their cell phone. This is dangerous because they are not paying attention to what they are doing and could cause an accident. 

Some states have laws set in place that can cause a fine if you are caught driving and being on the phone, let alone trying to send a text message. It only takes a couple seconds with your eyes off the road for an accident to happen. Distractions occur all the time while driving, limit yourself to additional distractions with the phone while driving. 

It is never okay to be distracted with a phone while driving. It is not worth it. But especially on roads that you are unsure or not used to. For instance, “How much of Route 66 is still drivable?” If you are unfamiliar with roads, it is already a distraction trying to stay on route. Some roads may be reconstructed and change so you have to be alert at all times. 

Parents should teach their children not to text while driving. One important lesson to learn is that their cell phone should be shut off while they are driving. This is because cell phone networks are not responsible for regulating their use. You will find that there are fines for anyone who is caught using a cell phone while driving. So if you find yourself in that situation, learn how to get your kids to stop texting. 

Parents need to be sure to monitor their child's use of their cell phone. If you don't monitor your child's texting then they could easily ignore you. They will think that they are being more careful than they really are by not sending you messages. Don't let that happen. Make sure that you monitor their texting to ensure that they are not erasing important texts. 

There are some things that you can do to encourage better texting habits. For example, offer prizes or incentives to your child when they send you a message. This will make them want to continue to send you messages even when you may not like the subject. Also, encourage them to use text messaging only during specific times of the day. That way, they are less likely to forget to send messages at the wrong times. With new technology, you can have Siri assist on an iphone and quickly read your messages. Your eyes should never leave the road. 

Another step that you can take is to make sure that you enforce texting rules with your child. Don't let them use their phone in class or on the bus or train if they can't make it due to distractions. Make sure that you are always available so that they can finish what they are doing. Also, don't let them text during dinner. This can lead to arguments, so you might as well limit texting during meal times. 

Another thing that you can do to encourage better texting habits is to help your child develop good behavior habits. For example, if they text all of the time then tell them to stop because this is not healthy texting habits. If your child is a good reader then tell them to read text messages only once a day. Read text messages out loud if your child is listening to you. You can also offer examples of the consequences if they are still sending text messages while they are supposed to be doing homework. 

Of course, the tips that we have given are just some of the things that you can do. To be truly effective, you need to integrate testing into other aspects of your parenting. For example, do not let your child drive when they text during school hours. If you get pulled over, teach your child

how to handle the situation if you get upset about the ticket. Text messaging while driving can be very dangerous and you should treat it as a serious safety issue. Remember to monitor your child's text messaging and driving activities regularly so you can keep things under control.