Talking to Your Teens About Distracted Driving in Chicago

By Neal S. Gainsberg | November 2, 2017

Talking to Your Teens About Distracted Driving in ChicagoDistracted driving is becoming more and more common with the advent of new technologies such as smartphones and satellite radio. Increasingly, motorists are looking away from the road. Fatalities have even been caused by distracted drivers who are text messaging, and their numbers are unfortunately on the rise. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimates that 3,477 people were killed in car crashes in 2015 because of distracted drivers. Talk to your teens about distracted driving in Chicago and surrounding areas. Their lives and others’ could be at stake.

Examples of distracted driving

Some common distractions that can impair driving are:

  • Talking on the phone
  • Texting
  • Eating or drinking while driving
  • Changing the radio or navigation system
  • Grooming

Make sure your teen driver understands his or her responsibilities: the driver is at fault if he or she drives distracted. Tell them, You could hurt yourself, other people in your car or on the road, and ruin your car and driving record.

What to tell your teen about distracted driving

All teenaged drivers are new drivers. Trial and error is a large part of experiential learning. This means that all teenagers will make mistakes while driving. Even adults with decades of driving experience can make unforced or unintentional driving errors. It is especially crucial when your children are driving in and around the Chicago area that they understand what constitutes distracted driving and its consequences. We have developed some talking points to use as a resource for you to talk to your teenager about distracted driving. Feel free to use and share them:

  • The consequences for distracted driving are severe in Illinois. Stress to your child that the first consequence is the guilt of causing an accident that could have been avoided. Secondly, if someone is harmed, you could be charged with a Class A misdemeanor. If convicted, your child could spend up to a year in jail and owe up to $2,500 in fines. If your teen driver kills another motorist due to their distracted driving, they will be charged with a Class 4 felony, which could result in up to three years in jail.
  • The tickets for texting and driving get progressively more expensive. Your first offense is a $75 ticket. Your second offense is $100, and goes on your record as a moving violation. Your third offense is $125, and all subsequent tickets are a $150 fine.
  • Encourage accountability. The best way to influence your child and their peer group’s behavior starts with one accountable teenager. Encourage your child to point out and deescalate when a friend is driving distracted. It is quite simple to pass your phone to a passenger, and it could avoid an accident and potentially save lives.

If you have been injured in a distracted driving accident or have questions about representation, Gainsberg Injury and Accident Lawyers provides full-scale legal services to Chicagoans and other residents of Illinois. Give us a call us today at 312-600-9585 or complete our contact form to schedule a free consultation with an experienced Chicago distracted driving lawyer.

 

Posted in Auto Accident