We all know what distracted driving means and we all know it’s dangerous, but that doesn’t mean we all avoid falling prey to the many distractions that assault us behind the wheel. Kids in the backseat, your phone buzzing, the music playing too loudly, and now there’s the #DrivingSelfie trend. It’s a scary thought, but even more so when it’s possibly your newly licensed teen who’s driving distracted.
April is Distracted Driving month which makes it a good time to remind ourselves, and especially our kids, of how dangerous it can be to not pay attention behind the wheel. There are so many distractions these days that it’s easy to forget that, when you’re driving, everything else can wait.
Auto companies are incorporating more and more technology in cars, but they’re also making it less distracting by disabling certain features when the car is in motion and adding voice-activated technology that lets you keep your hands on the wheel and your eyes on the road. The Ford SYNC system has hands-free features that are voice activated, but they’ve gone one step further with their Ford Driving Skills For Life program.
This program, established in 2003, aims to give teen drivers the edge by teaching them more than what they learn in a typical driver’s education course. Much of the program is web-based but there is a hands-on component with instructors travelling the country to give teen drivers instruction behind the wheel in controlled environments. And, of course, there is plenty of discussion about distracted driving.
Selfies are nothing new, but the #DrivingSelfie trend is gaining a lot of momentum, particularly with younger drivers. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration data shows that teens and 20-29 year old drivers are over-represented in fatal crashes. Holding up a phone in front of your face to snap a picture while cruising down the highway is not going to help.
You can’t force your kids to be safe, but you can educate them about the dangers of distracted driving. Talk to them about safety, encourage them not to use their phones in the car, and do something that will keep you and your family safe—teach by example. If you’re picking up your phone to send a quick text, you’re telling them it’s okay with your actions no matter what you say.
It’s also up to kids to help each other stay focused behind the wheel. Encourage your kids to speak up if they’re a passenger in a car with a distracted driver. It might be their friend texting behind the wheel, but that won’t make the passenger any better off in an accident.
You can find out more about the Ford Driving Skills for Life program at their website which has a list of all scheduled classes as well as downloadable materials to help coach your kids. #JustDrive
