As tempting as it may be to answer a text while driving, texting and driving can be extremely dangerous. You may think that just because you look away for a few seconds, you are safe. However, you can travel 100 yards in 5 seconds! Five seconds is only enough time to read a text – imagine how far you could travel while responding! Texting while driving is the leading cause of death for people between 15 and 20 years old, and 46 percent of teens openly admit to texting while driving.
As a parent, what can you do to keep your child safe? Check your teen’s data and text usage on your online statement. If you see that your teen is texting while you know he or she is driving, then you could warn them and then take their phone for a limited period of time. In the alternative, you could ensure that your teen’s cell phone has a voice to text application. The voice to text application will convert what your teen says into the words of a text. A hands-free way to text could be an easy and safe alternative.
If you or a loved one has been injured by a driver who was texting while driving, then call McWhirter, Bellinger, & Associates.
