Original source: Kars4kids

According to kars4kids.org:

• 25% of all car accidents are caused by distracted driving
• Texting and driving kills 11 teens every day
• Teens who text and drive spend 10% of their driving time outside their lane
• Distracted driving is the #1 killer of teens
• Texting while driving kills more teens than drunk driving

Here is a scary analogy:

Give your teen 4 beers before he heads out to the car and keep his phone. He's 6X's more likely NOT to crash the car. But texting while driving carries none of the stigma of driving while intoxicated. 77% of teens think they can drive safely while texting. And 15% of them have seen their own parents do it too!

10 Things You Can Do Today To Protect Your Teen

What should you say? How should you say it? 10 great tips to get you started.

1. Talk to your kids in a casual setting: while taking a walk or while washing up after supper. Keeping it casual puts kids at ease which helps them to both listen and respond.
2. Talk to your kids’ friends and parents. Make them your allies in the fight against texting and driving.
3. Install an app to track your kids’ cell phone usage—you’re not spying on them—you’re keeping them safe! Scroll down to preview some apps we've found useful.
4. Set rules and enforce them by drawing up a contract. Google abounds with sample contracts. Some parents prefer their contracts long and detailed while others prefer short and to the point. The contract should feel right to you and your child. Go over the contract together then have all parties sign. Check out these contracts: Contract 1, Contract 2, Contract 3, Contract 4, Contract 5.
5. Revisit the discussion on texting and driving from time to time. Don’t consider it an item you can cross off your to-do list. Kids need to be reminded. They need reinforcement.
6. Bone up on state laws regarding texting and driving and discuss these with your children.
7. Order a cloaking system to prevent your child’s cell phone signal from being maliciously intercepted to prevent having her location tracked by a stalker.
8. Explain the concept of “distracted driving” to your child, giving examples of different everyday habits that can represent dangerous distractions if done while driving, such as taking a sip of coffee, or yes, texting while driving.
9. Insist your child be responsible for any damages caused to your car as a result of carelessness. Consider adding to your contract a clause about damages and penalties.
10. Tell your child never to be a passenger in a car where someone, either driver or passengers, are under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Let your child know she can always call you to pick her up wherever she is, no matter what time it is, no questions asked: her safety is your uppermost concern.