Teens often take a lot of the blame for the rise in distracted driving accidents, and there’s a good reason for it. They are involved in a heavy amount of these accidents. They often lack the experience to know just how dangerous it is to text and drive or talk to passengers while behind the wheel.
However, just telling teens not to participate in distracted driving is not enough. Parents have to take that next step and lead by example. That’s the only way to really show teens how they should behave. If parents were committed to doing this, we could see a reduction in these avoidable accidents.
If you are a parent, you know that children learn by watching you almost from the moment they’re born. They learn how to talk, walk and interact with others. This does not stop just because they reach their teenage years. They keep learning, they keep watching and they keep copying you.
At the same time, setting an example means a lot more than simply giving them a set of rules to follow. Parents cannot expect their kids not to text and drive just because they tell them not to if those parents constantly text and drive with the kids in the car. It’s just not realistic.
This isn’t to shift all of the blame to parents, but just to show how everyone has a role to play.
Have you been injured in an accident with a distracted driver? If you’re facing high medical bills, make sure you know how to seek financial compensation for your costs.