A recent poll released by the National Safety Council found that 73% of respondents feel that there should be more enforcement surrounding texting laws. This number shows a dramatic shift in the changing attitudes of the public towards texting and safety behind the wheel.
Today, still no states have passed laws banning cell phone use while driving entirely. Forty four states, including the District of Columbia, have passed laws banning texting while driving. The District of Columbia has taken this one step further, banning the use of handheld cell phones while driving.
When asked what types of penalties they would like to see enforced against drivers who text, 52% were in favor of a point system that could ultimately result in the loss of the offender’s license or increased insurance premiums. 51% of respondents were in favor of tiered levels of penalty for repeat offenders and 50% thought monetary fines should be part of the penalty.
The National Safety Council continues to stand by their assessment that the human brain is not able to hold up the level of multi-tasking operating a vehicle while speaking on a cell phone requires. In fact studies have demonstrated that the brain is similarly distracted regardless of the use of handheld devices while driving. In an estimated 26% of all motor vehicle crashes at least one of the drivers was on a cell phone, talking or texting, at the time of the accident.
To the parent of a teenager these are alarming statistics. Teenagers are seldom without, or on, their phone. From texting and photos to chatting with friends, it is difficult for a teenager to spend any amount of time away from their mobile device. Teenagers also have no sense of their mortality and often engage in risky behaviors without considering the consequences, such as texting while driving.
As a parent you can too often feel out of control in helping your child to make the right decisions. By installing a mobile phone tracking system you can now ensure that your child is safe, and making the right decisions when operating a vehicle.
Mobile tracking with TxtWatcher allows for text monitoring, while using a location–based feature that identifies the location of your child’s mobile device when they send or receive text messages. One of the key capabilities of TxtWatcher includes email or texts sent to you when your teen is texting while driving. This message monitoring app is able to detect when a text is sent from a vehicle moving faster than 15 mph.
It is important as a parent that we instill a sense of responsibility in our children. However, it is even more important that we keep our children as safe as we can. Ensuring that your child is never texting while driving can help.