- Eating
- Drinking
- Applying makeup
- Watching films
- Adjusting the stereo
- Passengers
Related: Selfies Are The Latest Distracted Driving Behavior
Although adults are also at risk of this behavior, teens are particularly vulnerable. According to a recent study from the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute, young drivers tend to be overconfident after earning their licenses. This overconfidence makes them more likely to engage in risky behaviors.
Teach your kids about the dangers of distracted driving
Our kids need to know about road safety. Let’s live by example and show them safe driving habits that we want them to adopt. Think about it, if we aren’t committed from the start, then our kids are more likely to get hurt. Driver’s Education is a good start, but kids are only with them temporarily. It’s the parents who get to be with the kids most of the time. For example, let’s imagine that a parent is talking to someone on their cell phone with their kid in the passenger seat. The kid will start to think it’s safe to drive and be on the phone. However, being on the phone is prohibited in Kentucky. Each time a young driver is shown that it’s okay to be distracted while driving, they may start to think that distracted driving is only an issue when they get caught. The thing is, it’s more than violating the law, teen drivers are risking their lives and the lives of their passengers every time they drive distracted. So, when you talk to your child about distracted driving, set clear rules with them.
Related: Prevent Distracted Driving Among Teen Drivers With Apps
As a Kentucky Accident Attorney, I fully support the Kentucky and U.S. Government on their move to curb distracted driving rates. If a police officer catches you texting while driving, they will pull you over and you will be fined. If you know you are expecting a call or an important text, pull over into a safe area to take the call or check the text message. We want all drivers to be focused on the road when they drive. However, if we drive distracted, more accidents are going to happen and more lives will be lost.