New statistics are very scary on teen texting while driving. Talking on the phone is bad enough, but when you add the need to read words and respond by spelling out answers, it seems insane! Many teens say they “can’t help themselves” — even though it’s illegal in many states. Texting is their main way of communicating with their friends. How can we persuade them to change? Scary stories? Coercion? Teaching them how the brain works?
I think as always, the way to reach our children is by acting as a solid role model. Whenever this topic comes up, I think about my preteen stepdaughter and how I never want her to engage in this behavior. I recognize that she will see children and adults around her doing this, but she wont see it from me! I also think that families should be discussing how our phones, social media, etc. are changing us and our behaviors. It’s crucial that we bring this stuff into awareness.
Thank you for your comment. When I started talking about cyberoverload, I didn’t even mention texting while driving because I thought it was so obvious that texting would interfere. But apparently it’s not obvious to everyone.
My hope is that by the time your teenage stepdaughter is old enough to drive, there will be more awareness of this problem — it took quite a while before most people used seat-belts, for example. By then, too, the technology will probably have changed by then, too, so that no one uses their fingers anymore to text. But this may be worse because kids’ minds will still be elsewhere, which can also lead to inattentive driving.