The Lamber Goodnow Legal Team Recommends a Proactive Approach to Ending Distracted Driving with a Combination of High-Tech Tools and Old School Common Sense
The heat is on here in the valley of the sun, and across the nation, and many of you have teenagers on summer vacation, but the sad fact is that this season has also been called “The 100 Deadliest Days” for teen drivers as the period between Memorial Day and Labor Day is also a time when traffic fatalities increase with more young drivers on the road. Cell phones are undoubtedly a major part of your teen’s life, but we need to stop teen texting and driving now.
The National Safety Council estimates that in 2013 alone, there were 1.1 million crashes involving using a phone – and counted more than 3,000 deaths and 400,000 injuries caused by distracted driving that same year. And while the dangers of texting and driving have been well-documented, a recent study even suggests that the music that teenagers listen to can have a hazardous influence on their driving.
The Lamber Goodnow legal team is taking a proactive approach to this deadly problem, and we’ve mounted an online initiative to stop distracted driving. The sad fact is that we need to take action now as Arizona is one of only six states that doesn’t prohibit texting and driving.
High-Tech & Old School Solutions to Stop Teen Texting & Driving
- One high-tech solution is to have your teenagers download a “Driving Mode” app to their cellphones, which automatically send “I’m driving now” replies to texts and calls and holds all messages until you arrive. There’s an app for Android devices, as well as Apple phones and a host of other high-tech solutions for both teens and parents.
- There are also many low-tech ways to solve this problem, including having your kids take a pledge to never text and drive. I pledge to be an attentive driver.
- Set an example for those around you, especially children and teenagers, and model safe driving behavior by keeping your attention on the road and away from blinking and ringing devices. Parents and teens can make an agreement that together, they won’t use a cell phone for calls, texting or emails while operating a car – and to avoid temptation, no one in the car will use electronic devices while the vehicle is in operation.
- Pull over when you need to make a call or send a message.
- Educate family members that distracted driving is extremely dangerous, just like drunk driving or driving without a seat belt.
- Avoid calling or texting friends, colleagues and family who you know are driving.
- Ask your employer to discourage working while driving, such as taking phone calls or responding to emails or text messages.
- Encourage legislation to mandate safe driving.
Attorney Marc Lamber is committed to stopping this deadly trend, an epidemic that kills nine people every day, and he urges all parents to set a good example and “have the talk” about texting and driving, just like the talk you’ve undoubtedly had with your teens against drinking and driving.
Cell phones are a ubiquitous part of our culture – and we know the dangers of texting and driving – but many of us still do it anyway. We still see it every day, and if you’ve ever been behind “that car,” either going 5-mph or weaving in and out of traffic, once you’ve pulled around them, they’re usually attempting to text and drive at the same time. Let’s end this deadly epidemic now. Please set a good example for your kids – and let them know that with their entire future ahead of them, the “LOL” text response while driving can wait until they’re safely off the road. Stop teen texting and driving — now — before it’s too late.