Teenage deaths(16 & 17 YOs) increased by 19%! within the first six months of 2012. Teenagers’ motor vehicle deaths were the single leading cause (35%!). Cell phones have something to do with this.

Driver distraction is the leading cause of car accidents. Adult drivers (yes, that includes parents) have equally bad driving habits. From where do you think the kids get it?

Here is yet another place in our lives where we go unconscious. We place our precious meat suits into metal and fiberglass missiles, all or many of us, together, at one time, move the missiles onto the road at varying speeds and then decide it is OK to take our eyes off of the road and surrounding vehicles…to use the phone. We use the phone, comb our hair, eat, drink, all manner of madness.

This has to stop. I’M driving out there! Think of MY safety! You might hit me! For everything we hold dear, this has to stop. The numbers of teenage deaths alone rivals that of total deaths from gun violence!!! This has to stop.

SNAP TO!!! Being and remaining fully conscious and alert without distraction while driving needs to be THE EXAMPLE we set for our children and the CENTER of learning to drive. It’s not just good etiquette. Distracted driving is not cute. When we do it, it just shows how unconscious we are.

Do you know that with the Save Your Breath App for Android you can shut the service off on your kids’ phone until they have safely reached a destination (can also track them with same app on a map)? (They can of course still dial for emergency through the block.) Consider your compliance leverage here… and tell your friends with android phones about it.

How far are you willing to go to get yourself and your child safely through teenage?