How To Talk to Your Teen About Reducing Distractions While Driving

The 100 days between Memorial Day and Labor Day are the deadliest for teen drivers. That may seem alarming. However, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the risk of car accidents is higher in teenagers ages 16-19 than among any other age group. A leading cause of those crashes is losing focus. That is why, as Chicago parents, you need to talk to your teen about reducing distractions while driving.

Defining a Distraction

The biggest distraction when driving is the cell phone. In our state, using a hand-held device for phone calls or texting while operating a motor vehicle is illegal, per the Office of the Illinois Secretary of State. However, that isn’t the only type of distraction that you need to make your teen aware of. Here are more ways your child could take their eyes off the road:

• Eating or drinking
• Talking to a passenger
• Dealing with someone in the backseat
• Changing the radio
• Adjusting a navigation system
• Putting on makeup
• Watching or making a video

Any of those items can draw the driver’s attention to the road for a fraction of a second. That is all it takes for an accident to occur.

There could also be an instance when your teen is the victim of a distracted driver. Whether that means a simple fender bender or a more serious accident, it is good to know that the Thomas Law Offices are standing by to provide experienced counsel on how to seek a remedy for any expenses due to a negligent driver.

Have a Focused Conversation

When you set up a talk with your teen about distracted driving, it should be focused. That means waiting until dinner is over, the TV is off, and no one is on their smartphones. You want to get their attention because this is an important matter.

It might be helpful to share the relevant statistics about the dangers associated with teen drivers and distractions. You can also show them videos with crash simulations or recent news stories about accidents involving teen drivers. Sadly, those will not be hard to find. Your child must understand the risks associated with every road trip.

Set Rules and Consequences

You provide your child with rules throughout their life. When they pass their exam and obtain a driver’s license, there should be a new set of rules. The following are some examples of rules you could implement for your teen driver:

No Cell Phone While Driving

This is the hardest rule to follow but is the most important. Even using a hands-free device might be a distraction for someone who is just learning to drive. The better option is to have them turn off the phone when they get into the car and turn it back on when they get to where they’re going. That also means you should not attempt to call them.

Follow Passenger Restrictions Laws

Every passenger has the potential for distractions. That is why, in Illinois, a new driver can only have one passenger under 18 for the first 12 months of their license. And those passengers must buckle up even for a short trip.

Stick With a Playlist

Instead of constantly changing radio stations, your teen driver should load a playlist and stick with that for the duration of their trip.

Curfew

There are already curfews in place for teen drivers. Those are Sun.-Thurs., 10 p.m.-6 a.m.; Fri.-Sat., 11 p.m.-6 a.m. Those would be good limits to enforce.

The rules you set up will only matter if there are consequences for breaking them. That is why you need to establish the consequences for breaking them. Restricting driving privileges can be one way to do this. Remember, the goal is to keep your kids safe.

Be a Safe Driver Role Model

One of the most effective ways to teach your teen how to avoid distractions while driving is to show them. You want to ensure you are not using your cell or other apps when driving. When your kid sees this behavior, they will follow your lead.

It is also essential to prepare your child for the worst-case scenario. They should know what to do if they get involved in an accident. That will mean checking for injuries, calling 9-1-1, and documenting the scene. If that accident leads to a complicated insurance claim, you can enlist the services of the Thomas Law Offices. We can assess the incident and recommend the best way forward to find a remedy. Call to arrange a free case evaluation today.