Despite danger, teens still texting while driving

by Michelle L on November 18, 2009

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We’ve all heard stories over the years about women drivers putting on their makeup in the rear view mirror while zipping through rush hour traffic, or men tying their ties while they drive, or many people spilling hot coffee on themselves while driving. Nowadays, those bad behaviors remain, but have been augmented by new ones, specifically those related to cell phones. People talking while driving, one hand on the wheel, the other holding a cell phone to their ear. People dialing while behind the wheel. And, even more recently, people texting while driving. It’s become so common, and has been the cause of so many accidents, that the United States Senate is getting involved, trying to pass legislation that would ban the use of cell phones while driving. Despite the warnings, the news reports of accidents, and even the deaths of classmates, many teens still see nothing wrong with texting while driving.

To be fair, it’s not just teens. Adults are also guilty of it, and in some cases, it’s even worse because parents text while driving—and while their kids are in the car. Other than putting their kids and themselves in danger by engaging in this behavior, they’re also setting the worst possible example for their children. Parents can’t be with their driving-age teenagers all the time, and it’s when those teens are alone in the car that the texting gets out of hand.

A company called Pew Research recently published a study that showed about a third of the kids surveyed text while driving. Pew surveyed 800 kids between the ages of 12 and 17, and asked questions specifically related to cell phone use in the car, whether the kids were drivers or passengers.

The highlights of the survey broke out as follows:

75 percent said they own a cell phone
66 percent of those kids use their phone for text messaging
34 percent of kids aged 16 to 17 said they have texted while driving

Some of those surveyed said they only text when the vehicle is stopped, at red lights, for example. But others blatantly stated they see nothing wrong with texting while driving. One teenage boy even admitted to wearing sunglasses while driving so passing police officers can’t tell that his eyes are directed downward while he texts. And one teenage girl rationalized her texting while driving by saying she does so because she’s “bored.”

Some states have already banned both talking and texting while driving, including California, Oregon, and Connecticut. A recent controversy in California broke out because Maria Shriver, wife of Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, was photographed by paparazzi on more than one occasion using her cell phone while driving the family’s large SUV. When the photos were published, Governor Schwarzenegger made a statement saying he was addressing the problem directly, and the next time Shriver was photographed leaving her home, it was as a passenger with a hired driver behind the wheel.

Most of us don’t have the means to hire drivers to shuttle us and our teenagers to work, school, or wherever else we need to go. We need to find other ways to address the problem, especially those of us who have kids of driving age.

Parents may soon be getting some technological help. Last year, a University of Utah professor created an electronic device that actually prevents cell phone use while driving. The hand held device has one or more car keys installed in it, and uses BlueTooth technology to connect wirelessly with the key user’s cell phone.

When a particular key is in use, for example, the key assigned to the teenage driver in the household, the device sends a signal to the kid’s cell phone putting it in “drive mode.” While this setting is active, the cell phone is locked and cannot be used either to make calls or text. It can be overridden to allow calls to 911, or other designated numbers for safety purposes. Some auto makers have already expressed interest in making the device available with their vehicles.

It stands to reason that the device could also be used in a legal manner as well. The same way some criminals are fitted with ankle bracelets that limit their activities, people convicted of wreckless driving related to cell phone use could be required to use the device to ensure they don’t endanger anyone while driving. That is, if they don’t just have their licenses taken away altogether.

Until such a device is available, it’s up to parents to set the example, and cell phone use parameters. The first step for parents is to not text while driving, especially when their kids are in the car. Second, they can talk to their kids about the dangers involved with distracted driving.

A short film was recently released in England as a public service message to raise awareness of the dangers of texting while driving. It’s been making the rounds on the Internet for a little while now, and it definitely gets the message across. Parents may want to consider watching it with their kids, and then discussing the consequences of distracted driving. And it’s not just for parents and teens. If you know someone who has a habit of using their cell phone while driving, tell them of your concerns and encourage them to watch this video.

Please be aware, the video is quite graphic and may be disturbing to watch.