I can text and drive

by Steve Mochel
Co-owner of Fresh Green Light Driving School

For those of you who know Donna Lopez, mother of 2 teen drivers and one of our classroom instructors, nothing gets her blood boiling more than hearing those 5 words - "I can text and drive". And it never fails. Someone always says it when we're talking about texting and driving in our classroom at Fresh Green Light.

Sure - sometimes it's just someone who is trying to be funny. But the truth is most teenagers think they can text and drive. Look at these numbers from the Ad Council's Distracted Driving Campaign:

And parents of daughters, AAA just released a study last week showing the teen girls are twice as likely as teen boys to use cell phones and other electronics while driving.

So as parents, what can we do?

First of all - by now you've probably had the drug talk, the sex talk, the drinking talk so it's time to have the distracted driving talk. Have a frank discussion about texting and driving. Ask you teenager if they've done it. And come up with a plan to make sure it doesn't happen in the future.

Second - parents we need to be better role models. I've done it. You've done it. We've all done it. Reading e-mails on your Blackberry while driving is the same as texting and driving. And the last phone conversation that you have while driving is not nearly as important as you thought it was. Put your phone away and drive. Hey - what a great time to have the distracted driving talk with your teenager!

Lastly - when you see a friend, family member, or colleague being a distracted driver, call them on it. Tell them you care about them and want them to be safe. Just don't let them do it and get away with it - as they say at the MTA "if you see something - say someting".

Steve Mochel is the parent/step-parent of 2 teenage drivers and 2 teenage soon-to-be drivers.  He and his wife Laura Shuler created Fresh Green Light to provide 21^st century driver education to parents and new teen drivers in our community.  Fresh Green Light has been recognized by NHTSA recently as one of the most innovative driving schools in the country.  Fresh Green Light currently has locations in Rye NY, Cos Cob, CT & Darien, CT.