Does Your Teen Text and Drive??

K. - posted on 09/10/2011

I know this thread ended way back in May, but I found this yesterday and if it's still around when my girls start driving it will MOST DEFINITELY be going on their phones.

http://www.guardiannow.com/

The parent basically programs the phone to where it locks if the car is going above a certain speed, say 5mph. The only allowed calls are to 911 I think. I'm surprised there aren't more things like this on the market. I'd buy it!

Michelle - posted on 05/28/2011

I forgot to mention, or clarify, that I turn my cell phone off when I am driving also, and our daughter knows this. So, again, I feel if I lead, she more than likely will follow. To me it's no different than drinking and driving. If we go somewhere, I will not even have 1 drink if I am the driver. My daughter has witnessed this, as she is always with us at family functions. If my husband has a few beers, I will drink water or pop. Our daughter now gives her friends the 3rd degree if they tell her they had a beer or two then drove somewhere else. Trust is a big issue also!!! Sorry, I'm sooo talkative, I just feel very strongly against cell phone use while driving! I wish you and your family all the very best, and SAFE driving!!!

Michelle - posted on 05/28/2011

The safest is NO PHONE at all while driving. When our daughter got her driver's license, I showed her a clip on the computer that I received via email from her driving school. It was 4 girls in a car, the driver of the car was texting, swerved into oncoming traffic, and hit a minivan head on. It was a horrificly detailed clip, but very true. I explained this could happen to her. And she has no right to put not only her life in danger, but others on the road in danger as well. She was sooo horrified by the clip. My husband and I both explained to her that we will not allow cell phone use while driving. And I do not either. Lead by example I say. She knows that if we catch her using her cell phone while driving, she loses the privilidge of driving the vehicle. She is really good. And I will call her when I know she is driving, and her cell phone is turned off. And once she gets to where she is going, she will call me to tell me she is there, and her cell phone is back on.

Shawnn - posted on 05/24/2011

Like Jamie said, the vehicle is a NO PHONE zone. If they can't respect that, then they can either face the punishment if they (God forbid) hurt anyone else while being stupid, or perhaps end up dead.

Sorry for the blunt response, but I've been "almost" a victim of teen texting, and it has got to be the STUPIDEST thing in the world to do.

Jamie - posted on 05/22/2011

My husband and I have always deemed the vehicle as a
No Phone Zone My question is when did any kind of distraction in the car become okay? Just b/c there are hands free technology doesn't mean that the car has become any easier or lighter (3000-4000 lbs.still) to maneuver than before... before the cell it was iPods, Mp3, CD's, Tapes, 8 tracks, the FM radio station, AM radio station.

Jamie - posted on 05/22/2011

www.SafeDrivingSystems.com (Key2SafeDriving is an innovative way to reduce and prevent driving distractions caused by mobile phone use.)

http://www.oprah.com/world/Oprah-Winfrey...

Chief Thumbbody - posted on 05/20/2011

The stats on distracted driving are scary and the thought of texting - hands free or not - when you are supposed to be driving doesn't make much sense to me.

Try encouraging your teen to be thumbbody:)

Latricia - posted on 04/06/2010

They will do it anyway. My daughter told me about www.drivesafe.ly it reads your text out loud and you can respond by speaking into the phone with out texting. I use it too now.

Shelley - posted on 03/31/2010

Wow...I thought Arizona was one of the states that this was banned in. We do need more strict laws where this is concerned. Right now...we just get tickets in Cali. But just yesterday...I saw 2ppl breaking the law again. I gave them both the information on the Hands Free Texting, and asked them to help save lives. It may take a minute...but I plan to spread this to the world if I can (lol).

Kristina - posted on 03/31/2010

I am glad there is a "safe" alternative. Of course it would be better if people would just not do it at all but I agree that hands free is better. And don't count on the states making laws to punish people for it. AZ has tried twice to pass a law to fine people who text and drive and it has failed.

Jennifer - posted on 03/29/2010

Thats good to know. I know people are going to do it regardless, I just wish they made stricter laws about it cause like you said there are a lot of distracted drivers/accidents.

Shelley - posted on 03/29/2010

I COMPLETELY agree that it should not be done AT ALL!! And I don't text and drive. I will have my children answer the phone as well. But rather you like it or not...ppl do it. And it's not going to stop because someone is mad about it. I feel it's MUCH better to offer a SAFER alternative rather than stick one's head in the sand, and do nothing at all. Just because "I" don't do it...doesn't mean millions of OTHERS don't. There were 500,000 Distracted Driving related accidents last year alone...and the TOP distraction...TEXTING AND DRIVING. Anyone of those offenders could have hurt or even killed myself or my family. If telling EVERYONE I know about a HANDS FREE solution that may help keep my children safer while on the road...then that's exactly what I'm going to do for them (and myself too). And in the process...hopefully text related accidents...and deaths will decrease.

Jennifer - posted on 03/29/2010

What can save lives is not doing it at all. Dont answer the phone while your driving. I get so mad at people who are so engaged in a phone call or text that they pull out in front of you etc. I have a phone and it can keep on ringing while im driving unless one of my kids is with me and they will answer and say shes driving cant talk now. So I try to set a good example. My son just started driving last year and he wont do it either he gets mad at people who do. If its that important to talk to somebody get off the road. Your not only endangering your life you are doing others too. Hands free or not