Have you had the "text" talk with your teen?

I’ll admit something that I don’t often discuss; I’ve been in a car accident. Actually, I’ve caused a car accident. Make that several car accidents. I don’t like to discuss these accidents because I’m still fairly embarrassed about causing them. Although they were each minor, the reason for each accident was simple - I was distracted. Whether it was turning the radio station or a cell phone in my hands, something distracted me from focusing my full attention on the road.

Distracted driving has become an increasingly prevalent problem, especially among teenage drivers. There’s too many things in the car that can divert a driver’s attention. Whether it’s other teenagers in the car, or texting while driving, teens are at risk.

Most parents spend time with their children at the ages of 15 and 16 teaching them the rules of the road: how to change lanes, how to parallel park, and the list goes on. But what many parents don’t know how to do effectively is teach their teens how to focus their attention on their driving while in the car, and ignore distractions that may present themselves. Parents also may not know how to set effective rules for their teens that minimize their risk behind the wheel.

That’s why we created the Drive with C.A.R.E. program, a free driving safety course for teens and parents. The program teaches teens the dangers of distracted driving and teaches parents how to set rules for their teens and hold them accountable. As you'll see in the video below, teens are much less likely to injure themselves or others while driving if their parents have set rules on how and when the teen can drive a car.

Learn more about the Drive with C.A.R.E. program from this video:

To schedule a presentation for a group, call 321.841.3859, or visit myormc.com/drivewithcare.