 Submitted by Teresa Carper - SADD State Coordinator
Try to talk to teens about traffic safety and they already know the hazards. They are worried about stress, bullying, school safety, depression/suicide. But these concerns DO have an impact on the teen driver. It is that distraction of not having their mind on the road, but on their concern of the day. They also live in their phones and in an online world. This habit, or addiction, to our phone can add to a feeling of being isolated, not engaged, and cause stress. When you note to teen drivers that this can lead to distraction behind the wheel, they will agree with you! They admit to being too tuned in to their social media even when the phone is not in their hand. A new program seeks to remedy this in memory of a young woman who lost her life to a distracted driver. The program talks about distracted driving in the traditional sense, but it seeks to go a step further by breaking the habit of living in the social media world. The National SADD Office and “Text Less Live More” promotes the message of LIVING outside the phone. The thought is that it not only breaks the habit of having the need to be “online” every moment, but also promotes better mental health and focus. By combating both issues at once, these teens are excited to promote this traffic safety message. “Text Less Live More” is available to any school or group in the State of Ohio. There are regular program events or a monthly calendar for student activities and potential prizes. You can learn more about this program at www.textlesslivemore.org or contact Teresa C. Carper at tcarper@sadd.org . |
