Rules of the Road for Texting
By now you've probably seen the dramatic PSA that graphically illustrates the dangers of texting while driving. Created by the local police station in Gwent, Wales, it's now an Internet sensation that's been viewed more than a million times on YouTube. The video plays like a movie car crash, showing a teen texting on her cell phone while driving with two other girls. Her car veers out of its lane and collides head-on with another car, which violently forces both cars off the road. The girls look at each other with bloodied faces -- thinking they survived -- only to be hit by a third car, resulting in apparent deaths.
Lots of screaming, screeching, and blood follow, all designed as a gut-wrenching deterrent to texting while driving. (It's hard to watch, and if your kids are already driving age or nearing it, you should view it first to determine whether you want to share it with them.)
Dramatic action aside, texting -- the #2 use of cell phones after checking the time -- has become a behavior that needs some non-negotiable rules.
Most kids who have cell phones probably got them because their parents wanted to be able to stay in touch. But billions of text messages are sent every year from our kids' mobile phones, and most of them are not to mom and dad. In a recent study, about half of drivers ages 16-24 admitted to texting while driving.
The need for social interaction combined with the instant gratification of instant messaging results in a near-compulsion in some kids -- and many adults. Because the behavior begins so early -- some kids as young as third grade have cell phones -- it's easier to develop rules of acceptable behavior at an early age, rather than try to retroactively curb the behavior when kids start driving. Have you established texting rules in your home?
Tips for Safe Texting
Remain seated -- or at least stationary. Texting while you should be paying attention to where you're headed (walking, driving, etc.) is a bad idea.
With great power comes great responsibility. Kids should follow safe texting rules in order to earn the privilege of owning a phone. For guidance on establishing rules for your family, see our tips on Responsible Text Messaging.
Monkey see, monkey do. Admit it, parents, how many times have you texted while driving or held a cell phone at the wheel despite hands-free laws? In our 24/7 society, it's really hard to resist the impulse to answer the phone as soon as it rings. But remember: Your kids are watching and will ultimately copy your behavior.
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Make the rules long before they get behind the wheel.
By now you've probably seen the dramatic PSA that graphically illustrates the dangers of texting while driving. Created by the local police station in Gwent, Wales, it's now an Internet sensation that's been viewed more than a million times on YouTube. The video plays like a movie car crash, showing a teen texting on her cell phone while driving with two other girls. Her car veers out of its lane and collides head-on with another car, which violently forces both cars off the road. The girls look at each other with bloodied faces -- thinking they survived -- only to be hit by a third car, resulting in apparent deaths.
Lots of screaming, screeching, and blood follow, all designed as a gut-wrenching deterrent to texting while driving. (It's hard to watch, and if your kids are already driving age or nearing it, you should view it first to determine whether you want to share it with them.)
Dramatic action aside, texting -- the #2 use of cell phones after checking the time -- has become a behavior that needs some non-negotiable rules.
Most kids who have cell phones probably got them because their parents wanted to be able to stay in touch. But billions of text messages are sent every year from our kids' mobile phones, and most of them are not to mom and dad. In a recent study, about half of drivers ages 16-24 admitted to texting while driving.
The need for social interaction combined with the instant gratification of instant messaging results in a near-compulsion in some kids -- and many adults. Because the behavior begins so early -- some kids as young as third grade have cell phones -- it's easier to develop rules of acceptable behavior at an early age, rather than try to retroactively curb the behavior when kids start driving. Have you established texting rules in your home?
Tips for Safe Texting
Remain seated -- or at least stationary. Texting while you should be paying attention to where you're headed (walking, driving, etc.) is a bad idea.
With great power comes great responsibility. Kids should follow safe texting rules in order to earn the privilege of owning a phone. For guidance on establishing rules for your family, see our tips on Responsible Text Messaging.
Monkey see, monkey do. Admit it, parents, how many times have you texted while driving or held a cell phone at the wheel despite hands-free laws? In our 24/7 society, it's really hard to resist the impulse to answer the phone as soon as it rings. But remember: Your kids are watching and will ultimately copy your behavior.
Texting in class is not that big a deal. I do it sometimes and it doesn't impair me that much I'm an A-B student so It's not that big a deal, though I don't do it that often. Texting while driving, on the other hand, is a completely different story. It is totally idiotic. I have friends that do it and every time I'm in the car with them i feel like my life is hanging by a thread. It's stupid and selfish to endanger your life and everyone else's for the sake of your own stupid shallow conversations.
god ppl are this stupid! wow what kind of idiot would text or call ppl on the phone while driving it makes no sense
I don't understand why someone would text while driving! It's just not smart. Is it that important to text "what up?" to someone else while driving, endangering yourself and everyone around you??? So not sart! I don't know anything dumber than that! (Especially when you are driving a killing machine!!!)
sometimes it becomes a problem with other kids during class.
I know some "trouble makers" in my class that loves to text to eachother in class, WHILE the teacher is speaking. Its best to know what your child is texting ABOUT. It has become a rumor that the "trouble makers" are talking about "smokin hot chicks" or ditching class to "hit the mall".
I actually have only ONE rule when it comes to texting while driving. I don't do it - I either call the person back or I wait until I get home or wherever I'm going and it's safer for me to be texting. It's pretty simple really - I don't want to get hit with a massive ticket from the police (I think the government gets enough of our money at this point already), and then have to pay even more for auto insurance, or worse, run some poor person over.
You see, there's this thing I also have - about death. It's just not me. I figure if I'm gonna go out, there's no way it's going to be doing something as stupid as texting while driving, you know what I mean? Not that I plan to anytime soon, but texting while driving is just dumb.
Just don't text .
I don't get it. It seems like a waste of time to me.