{"id":1337,"date":"2010-09-02T09:00:50","date_gmt":"2010-09-02T16:00:50","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/wellconnectedmom.com\/blog\/?p=1337"},"modified":"2011-04-28T03:34:15","modified_gmt":"2011-04-27T20:34:15","slug":"teens-cellphones-safety-a-primer-part-iii","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wellconnectedmom.com\/blog\/teens-cellphones-safety-a-primer-part-iii\/","title":{"rendered":"Teens & Cellphones: Safety A Primer Part III"},"content":{"rendered":"
<\/span>by Lori Cunningham<\/span><\/div>\n

This post<\/strong> is part III of a four part series entitled Teens & Cellphones \u2013 A Primer. The first post, <\/strong>Teens & Cellphones \u2013 A Primer Part I<\/strong><\/span><\/a> and the second post, <\/strong>Teens & Cellphones: Manners A Primer Part II<\/strong><\/a> have already been published. The last upcoming post in this series focuses on Teen Sexting.<\/strong><\/span><\/span> <\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Have<\/a><\/span>According to LG, on average, a teen sends a text message every 14 minutes. If you multiply that across the US, there are over 20,000 texts being sent every second! Now that’s a lot of communicating!\u00a0 But are teens communicating at times and places that are appropriate?<\/span> This article will provide a good foundation for you to have a conversation with your teen about cellphone safety.<\/p>\n

Cellphones can give teens a tremendous boost in their personal safety since they can call someone immediately if they need help or are stranded.\u00a0 Teens can let their parents know where they are, call for directions to get out of an unknown place, etc.\u00a0 According to a national survey from CTIA<\/a> and Harris Interactive<\/a>, <\/span><\/p>\n

80% [of teens] say their cell phone provides a sense of security while on the go, confirming that the cell phone has become their mobile safety net when needing a ride (79%), getting important information (51%), or just helping out someone in trouble (35%).<\/span><\/address>\n

But cellphones can also pose many risks. <\/span>There has been a lot in the news in the past few years about the dangers of driving while using a cellphone or texting– and justly so. We have all heard tragic stories where young people were killed as a result. Even if your child doesn’t drive yet, cellphone safety is still a concern. In this post, we’ll cover cellphone safety while behind the wheel and general safety tips for your teen (and you!)<\/span><\/p>\n

Cellphone Use While Driving\"Talking<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/div>\n

The <\/span>LG Text Survey <\/span><\/a>found that nearly half of the parents <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>surveyed admitted to texting while driving. So it’s no surprise to learn that 45% of teens have likewise admitted to texting while driving. Yet, only 4% of surveyed parents believed their teen was texting and driving. If we are texting and driving, most likely so will our kids. Teaching our children safety begins with us, as parents, and what behaviors we model for them.<\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n

What Are the Risks of Driving while Texting or Talking on the Phone?<\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n

According to Diane Griffith, reporter for <\/span>myOptumHealth<\/span><\/a>, <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n

“You have four times the risk of being in a crash if you’re on the phone while driving. Talking on a cell phone while driving lowers your reaction time, studies confirm. This is believed to be caused by a phenomenon known as “perceptual <\/span><\/em><\/span>blindness<\/em><\/span><\/span><\/a>.” It suggests that when a person focuses on one task (like talking on the phone), he or she fails to notice unexpected distractions – even when looking at them.”<\/em><\/span><\/div>\n

By the time a\u00a0driver using his\/her cellphone notices they need to brake ASAP, it’s too late. More rear-end crashes occur as a result of cellphone using drivers than non-cellphone using drivers.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0If your teen is driving the car with other teens in it, distractions will occur.\u00a0 Watch this 31 second video to see how quickly\u00a0accidents happen.\u00a0 Don’t worry, although an accident is implied, this video is not one of those gory one’s that haunt you for weeks.<\/p>\n

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General Safety<\/strong> <\/span><\/h2>\n

OK, great, your teen is not texting while driving (you hope!).\u00a0 But texting or talking on their cellphone can still be unsafe. As you have seen from the video, talking on the phone or texting creates a lot of distraction. Often times, the teen is not aware of his\/her surroundings while using his\/her phone. <\/span>As a general rule, make sure your teen always keeps a keen eye on what is going on around him\/her.\u00a0\u00a0Teens need to be taught that just because they are on the phone, the world does not stop around them. <\/span><\/p>\n

Walking while Talking or Texting<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

This could be an accident waiting to happen. Here’s what could happen, you could…\"Walking<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n