The time has come. Your teen passed the driver’s test and is waving their brand new license proudly. You’re happy not to have to play chauffer anymore and basking in your 16 year-old’s glee. But now you must hand over the car keys and pray that they drive safe.
Perhaps one of our biggest worries as parents is how safe our new teen driver will be behind the wheel. Our parents worried about us listening to the radio we drove. We worry about our teens and their phones. Lawmakers worry too.
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- 11 states have banned using cellphones while driving
- 47 states have banned texting while driving
- 37 states have banned novice drivers from using their phones while driving
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Studies go as far showing that texting while driving is even more dangerous than driving under the influence.
These laws and bans still don’t prevent teens from using their phones. Nothing really will. We can talk to our teens about cellphone safety while driving. We can also make it easy for them not to use their phones while driving.
As your teen takes advantage of summer freedom, driving around, you do worry about safety. You want to make sure they’re putting themselves and others in danger, especially with their phones. Here is some mom-friendly advice you can take right now.
- Sign an agreement. Before handing over the keys, sit down with your teen and come up with a contract…together. Let him/her be part of the process. Come up with rules for the road. Discuss each one. Make sure to include consequences in this agreement. Parents and teens sign the agreement. Make it official by making a copy. But a copy in a public place so you can always reference it should you need to.
- Smartphone car mounts. Not too many parents think of this. I have one and it’s amazing. Smartphone car mounts prevent phones from flying to the floorboard and being even more of a distraction.
- Bluetooth. If you don’t have one of those cars that has Bluetooth built in or that reads text messages, get a Bluetooth earpiece. Both hands stay on the wheel.
- Hitch a ride with your teen. Even though your teen has a driver’s license, you can still ride in the car with your teen. Sit in the front and in the back. Let your teen drive and after you’ve stopped, provide feedback—good and bad.
It may be a bit scary, but you can handle it. You can help your teen drive safely. Never flip out. Try to remain as calm as you possibly can. With your guidance, your teen driver can be safe.
