I recently received an email describing a new law that is supposedly going into effect on July 1, 2008 in North Carolina. The law would prohibit drivers from talking on a cell phone while driving, unless they use a hands-free device. (Drivers under age 18 would be prohibited from using any type of wireless device.) The email gives extensive details about the new law, including penalties for breaking it.

Unlike most emails of this nature that I receive, I believed it to be true because I had heard about the new law from other sources, including mainstream media and even a NC DMV employee. I have recently learned that THIS EMAIL IS A HOAX! According to the North Carolina General Assembly’s website, no such law is scheduled to take effect in North Carolina. The law described in the email is actually for the state of California. The content of the email was taken directly from the California Department of Motor Vehicles Code publication on their DMV website.

There are currently laws in North Carolina prohibiting cell phone use for some drivers. Drivers under the age of 18 may not use a cell phone behind the wheel, except to call their parents or law enforcement in an emergency situation. Bus Drivers are also not permitted to speak on cell phones while driving. A law outlawing cell phone use while driving (except with a hands-free phone or head set) has been introduced into the N.C. General Assembly several times over the past few years. The law was passed by the State Senate in 2007, but it was not ratified by the legislature.

Even though it looks like North Carolina drivers will be permitted to talk freely for a while longer, it is only a matter of time before such a law is passed. Although many of us do it on a regular basis, talking on a cell phone while driving is dangerous. Not only is it a significant distraction, but it takes one hand off the wheel that could be needed to help control the vehicle to avoid an accident. Talking on the phone also limits your ability to turn your head to see clearly while backing up or changing lanes.

Remember - being a good, safe driver requires paying constant attention to your surroundings, having quick reactions, and maintaining total control over your vehicle. You can’t do any of these things while holding a cell phone. You didn’t see Danika Patrick using a cell phone at the Japan 300 last week, did you?

Drive Safely!

Is your teenager taking Driver’s Ed, and soon will be asking for your car keys?  Or maybe your teen already has a Drivers License, but you are afraid if he/she will be able to drive safely and responsibly?  Unfortunately, your concerns are justified.   Teen drivers are at significant risk on the road, and parents need to be aware of these alarming statistics from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA):

• 14% of all deaths due to motor vehicle accidents are teen drivers.
• Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death among 13-19-year-old males and females in the United States.
• Teen lifestyle of staying up late make teen drivers a high risk to have an automobile accident due to drowsiness.
• The presence of teen passengers increases the crash risk for unsupervised teen drivers: the risk increased with the number of teen passengers.
• Crash risk is particularly high during the first years that teenagers are eligible to drive
• Approximately 30% of teen drivers who die in motor vehicle crashes have been drinking alcohol

So, what can you as a parent do to keep your children safe?  The first thing you should do is select a safe vehicle for your teen to drive.  We all want our kid to drive the newest and coolest car out there, but that “image” can come with a cost.  As I drive around town, I see these young and inexperienced drivers in Mustangs, BMW’s and large SUVs.  These automobiles are big, powerful and difficult to control for even experienced drivers.  In the hands of a new driver, they can be deadly weapons.  Small cars can also be dangerous, however, as they do not protect passengers as well in a front end crash.  Your teen is safest in a midsized sedan with a four cylinder engine, airbags and a good crash test rating.  You’ll also save on gas and insurance costs!  (For crash test ratings, visit the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety website at www.iihs.org.)

Another step you can take to keep your teen driver safe is to monitor his or her driving behavior.  You ask your kids who they are going to be with when they go out and where they are going.  You call the parents of a friend who is having a party to make sure the kids will be properly supervised.  You make rules, set limits, and check up on them.  So, why not do the same thing when it comes to their driving behaviors? 

The NHTSA encourages parents to closely monitor and strictly limit their teen’s driving in the first 12 - 18 months after obtaining a license.  Limit where and when your teen is allowed to drive without you in the car, such as at night or in adverse weather.   Require the use of seat belts, and do not permit the use of cell phones or MP3 players while driving.  Limit the number of passengers your teen may have in the car when he or she is driving.  My parents wouldn’t let me have any passengers (except them) for the first 6 months.  At the time, it made me angry that I couldn’t cruise around with my friends, but now I understand their wisdom.
 
You may choose to invest in an Event Data Recorder or GPS device to monitor your child’s vehicle location and speed.  When your teen driver speeds or does something with the car you don’t approve, you will know.  You may balk at such monitoring as an invasion of privacy, but it could save your child’s life or the life of someone else.  Just be honest with your teen about the existence of the device and that it is for their safety (and your peace of mind).

Finally, be aware of your own driving behaviors when your child is in the car with you – even years before he or she is eligible to drive.  For better or worse, our children learn by watching us.  If you speed, tailgate or yell at other drivers, your teen will too.  The best thing you can do to teach your teen to be a responsible driver is to set a good example and be a safe and courteous driver yourself.