Get Creative! Ending Texting and Driving

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My kids have long been the backseat driving police thanks to the running commentary they’ve heard from me their entire lives:

Never turn your wheel to the left while waiting to make a left turn.  If someone rear-ends you, they’ll push your car into oncoming traffic.

If your windshield wipers are on, you’re required to also turn on your headlights.

It’s against the law to leave a car running and unattended.  Yes, you’ll be cold without a warmed up car.  Grab a blanket.

My hope is that by the time my seven and nine year old are old enough to drive, these safety messages will be ingrained in their thoughts, a natural part of who they are as young drivers.

And I hope that “No Texting and Driving” is one of the messages they repeat to themselves as they’re learning to drive.

While communication with your children about the dangers of texting and driving is key long before they turn sixteen, sometimes it’s necessary to take additional steps to keep them safe.  The DriveMode® app from AT&T senses when your teen’s car is going over 25 mph and is able to send an auto-response to incoming text messages.  Your teens, through the use of DriveMode®, can let their friends know that they’re currently behind the wheel and unable to respond.  They can even customize the response that is sent from their phone.

As parents, we need to get creative, speaking to our kids early and often about the dangers of texting and driving and utilizing technology such as AT&T’s DriveMode.

What are some other ways that we as parents can creatively end texting and driving?   What are some creative ways to encourage our teens to take the It Can Wait pledge?

 

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