May 28, 2010
Judge Tom
0

Teens text while driving in driver’s ed

Approximately 25 states have banned texting while driving [TWD].  Some states go a step further and require teens to take a special hands-on course to experience the dangers of TWD. 

In Vermont, the Department of Motor Vehicles puts teen drivers through an obstacle course while driving a golf-cart.  Orange cones are used to define the course and represent other cars or people.  The teens drive through the course once without a phone, and then a second time while texting a friend.  “They’re very unsuccessful at texting and navigating the cones,” stated David Teater, a director at the National Safety Council.

Photo by Mockstar (Flickr)

28% of crashes [about 1.6 million per year] are caused by cell phone use, either talking or texting.  Trevor Nadeau, age 16 of Vermont, said he learned from this test not to text while driving.  “I did horrible,” he said.  “I got one mistake the first time, eleven the second.”

For more about TWD, take a look at:  http://askthejudge.info/teen-twd-troublesome/3694/

Judge Tom

The Author Judge Tom

Judge Tom is the founder and moderator of AsktheJudge.info. He is a retired juvenile judge and spent 23 years on the bench. He has written several books for lawyers and judges as well as teens and parents including 'Teen Cyberbullying Investigated' (Free Spirit Publishing) and 'Every Vote Matters: the Power of Your Voice, from Student Elections to the Supreme Court' (Free Spirit Publishing). In 2020, the American Bar Association published "Cyberbullying Law," the nation's first case-law book written for lawyers, judges and law students. When he's not answering teens' questions, Judge Tom volunteers with the American Red Cross and can be found hiking, traveling and reading.

Find great resources in our

Teen Help Network

Leave A Comment