Driving demands the full attention of the driver. Talking on the phone and texting decrease the driver’s concentration considerably. Don’t even look at your phone, even at intersections—wait until you’re off the road and the motor is turned off. While some states allow hands-free talking on a phone while driving, most do not allow hands-free for novice drivers—during your first years of driving (GHSA, 2019).

With texting, consider this: the average text takes your eyes off the road for almost 5 seconds—at 55mph, that’s like driving the entire length of a football field blindfolded—without seeing anything in traffic you’d need to avoid. Remember, distracted driving is any activity that diverts attention from driving, including talking or texting on your phone, eating and drinking, talking to people in your vehicle, fiddling with the stereo, entertainment or navigation system — anything that takes your attention away from the task of safe driving (NHTSA, 2021).

You cannot drive safely unless the task of driving has your full attention. Any non-driving activity you engage in is a potential distraction and increases your risk of crashing.

Tips on Talking to Your Teen About Distracted Driving