Texting and Driving: A Killing Combination

 Make the rules long before they get behind the wheel.
Teens love to text. They'll send messages any time and anywhere.  But if they text from behind the wheel of a car, the results could be deadly.

Studies show that texting and driving is as dangerous as drinking and driving.  If you text while behind the wheel, you're 23 times more likely to crash. 
In Massachusetts it is illegal t text while driving, teens (and let's face it, parents) still do it, even though they know it's dangerous.  When teens are driving, any activity besides keeping their eyes on the road and their hands on the wheel -- like emailing, downloading music, taking pictures -- is a huge no no.

So how can you make sure your teen is phone-free while behind the wheel?
   1. Make it non-negotiable.  Teens need to understand that keys and phones simply 
        do not mix.  
        Let them know that distracted driving is just as dangerous as drunk driving.

   2. Set clear rules.  Tell your teens to turn off their phones and put them in the glove 
        box before they state the car. 
         If you're teen doesn't have the will power to do this, use apps that restrict 
        texting while driving. 

    3.Set an example.  Resist the impulse to check your own phone while in traffic. 
        Your kids are watching what you do. And chances are, they'll copy your behavior.

There's no denying that texting is here to stay.  So managing when and where your kids do use their phones is critical -- not just for their development, but for their safety as well.