Numbers Don’t Lie
- Texting Kills More Teenagers than Driving Under the Influence
- Texting while driving causes 1,600,000 accidents per year
- Texting while driving causes 330,000 injuries per year
- Texting while driving causes 11 teen deaths EVERY DAY
- Texting while driving causes nearly 25% of all car wrecks
- If you text while you are driving, you are six times more likely to cause a wreck than driving while drunk.
- Texting while driving is the #1 driving distraction reported by teen drivers
- Texting while driving makes you 23x more likely to have a wreck
Tips for Parents of Teenage Drivers
The most important thing that the parent of a teenage driver can do is to be honest with your teen about your worries that they might be texting and driving. You should also share the law when them. It is against the law in Tennessee and Georgia to transmit or read a text message while driving. For most drivers, it is not against the law to talk on a cell phone while driving, but it can certainly be considered distracted driving (also against the law in both states) wrecks.
Here are some other suggestions for parents:
- Always set the example. Never text and drive in your own vehicle under any circumstance. If your teenager sees you doing it, they will think it is acceptable for them to do it.
- Consider apps that prevent texting. For example, Drive Mode is a free cell phone app from AT&T that will not allow your teenage driver to text on their cell phone when the phone senses that it is in motion. Contact your cell phone carrier to learn more about these types of apps.
- Suggest alternatives to texting and driving. Such as: assigning a designated texter in the vehicle while a teen is driving, placing the phone in a glove compartment while driving so that it is out of reach or, if they must use the phone, ask them to call – but never text!
- Discipline your teenager driver. If you witness your teenager texting and driving OR if a friend or family member reports this behavior to you OR if your teenage driver receives a ticket for texting and driving – take it seriously! A sure way to discourage this action in the future is to hold them accountable.
- Take the Warren & Griffin “NVR TXT & DRV” pledge. Get on the computer with your teen and go to our NVR TXT & DRV page. Here you can talk with your teen about texting and driving and even take our NVR TXT& DRV pledge together.
Have You or a Family Member Been Involved in a Wreck Because Someone was Texting and Driving?
If you or a family member have been involved in a wreck and you suspect or know that the other driver was texting, you may be entitled to compensation. Contact C. Mark Warren at cmark@warrenandgriffin.com or call our office at (423) 265-HURT (4878). One of our attorneys would be happy to speak with you about your circumstances, answer any legal questions you might have and see if your are entitled to compensation.