ROADSIDE CHAT – GROW A SAFETY SEED, START BY BURYING THE PHONE
Every parent dreams of seeing their children grow up safe and healthy. And parents have an enormous ability to educate them on avoiding danger by teaching skills like looking both ways before crossing the street and buckling up in every seat. But a critical safety seed that’s often not planted is burying the cell phone while driving. Done early, it can sprout a family expectation of a mindset to help grow our kids into safe adult drivers.
Driving habits get rooted by watching parents, so it’s important to model good behavior. See the different personalities we model with phones in our hands. If your children see you ignoring your phone while driving, they’re more likely to follow your lead. Set a good example by digging in and going hands-free:
- Put phones out of reach: Maybe it’s the glove compartment, backseat, or the trunk, but put it out of reach while driving.
- Use Bluetooth-enabled devices and voice-activated systems: While still distracting, these systems allow drivers to keep their hands on the wheel and eyes on the road.
- Set your phone to “Do Not Disturb” mode: Enable driving-specific features that silence notifications.
- Plan your route ahead: Set digital mapping destinations before starting your drive.
- Communicate your boundaries: Let friends and family know you’ll respond when you’re stopped.
Schools are seeing the engagement and behavior benefits of removing cell phones from the classroom. By teaching your children now to bury their phones when they’re driving, you’re not just helping them focus on the road – you’re setting them up for a safer future.
Thank you to Adam for inspiring this traffic safety suggestion.
In 2025 in Iowa, 2 people have been killed in traffic crashes. That’s an increase of two since last Friday. In Iowa in 2024, there were 352 traffic-related deaths. To see statistics published daily by the Office of Driver Services, go to the daily fatality report at https://www.iowadot.gov/mvd/stats/daily.pdf