Recently the National Transportation Safety Board called for a ban on cell phone use while driving and Ray LaHood, head of the Transportation Department, does not agree.
“We need people to take personal responsibility. Put the cell phone in the glove compartment,” LaHood told reporters at the Department of Transportation headquarters according to a report by HandsFreeInfo.
Raising children in the network culture to live abundantly, with rich relationships, requires self-governance; it requires us to demonstrate the ability to put the phone away and concentrate on the person, assignment or duty at hand.
The mobile phones and social media have been the most disruptive influences in family life, as texting and being in a constant state of remote access to others not present, has created a new norm that is not necessarily in our best interest.
Remote access is helpful for emergencies and communication for long distance relationships. However, living in the present with family, friends and community requires our attention.
Dr. Kelly Browning is the executive director of ImpactTeenDrivers, based in Sacramento, dedicated to changing youth culture to embrace safe driving practices and discourage distracted driving. “This is a cultural problem,” Browning said, “We need to reach the hearts and minds of young people to do the right thing because their lives are important.”
In this regard, if we cannot bring ourselves to model safe driving, and put the phone away to drive, how can we expect our children to do so?
Parent Resources
- Family life in the network culture
- The Authority In Me: Parental authority can not be lost, it can only be surrendered
- ImpactTeenDrivers
- Department of Transportation
(Ref:550-e)
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