That once-tiny child who used to cry when you left him at preschool is now an outgoing and independent 16-year-old who is ready to start — gulp — driving on his own. As most parents of young drivers know, teaching a child to drive is as much a rite of passage for the adult as the teen.

As a parent of a fledgling driver, you definitely walk a fine line. You want to emphasize the importance of safe, smart driving but also want to avoid the use of scary statistics that may just serve to alienate your teen. You don’t want your teen to ignore your great advice about driving because you peppered it with too many grim facts. Research the statistics for your own knowledge, and then use the underlying message behind these numbers to teach your teen to be a safe, courteous and responsible driver.

Create a Drive Solo Rule

The risk of being in a car accident is highest among 16- to 19-year-olds, according to the CDC. In fact, they are three times more likely as people 20 and over to be in a motor vehicle crash. While males are twice as likely as females to be involved in an accident when they are 16 to 19, those with teenage passengers in the car are also at an increased risk. Some things are out of your control, but you can dictate how many people can be in the car with your teenage driver.

For the first few months your teen has his license, do not allow him to drive other teen passengers. After six months or so, you might allow one trusted friend to ride in the car too. This rule will eliminate the distraction present with a car full of rowdy teens.

Create a No Texting Rule

Do not text and drive — either of you.

Like most teens, your kid always has a phone in his hands. Texting while steering a two-ton steel machine down the road though… that’s a big no-no.

Texting and Driving Safety has created a thought-provoking infographic. Thirty-four percent of teens say they have texted while behind the wheel. As for why they do it — in some cases, it’s because they’ve seen their folks do it too. Fifteen percent of teens have seen a parent text and drive and 27 percent of adults have sent or received texts while behind the wheel. To reduce the chance of your teen texting while driving, be a good role model. In addition, you might consider installing a dash cam in the car, at least for the first year. And have your teen sign a contract that he will keep both thumbs on the wheel, not the phone.

Study (or Brush Up on) the Road Rules

Refresh your memory on road rules while helping your teen study for the driver’s permit test. In addition to helping your teen increase his chances of passing, it will also help to refresh your own memory on the rules of the road. A whopping 72 percent of teens fail their driving test the first time, according to Driving-Tests.org. Increase your teen’s chance of passing and encourage him to take practice exams, and read through the questions. The practice will boost your own knowledge and skills too.

Did you know that drivers who text are 23 times more likely to be in a car crash? As parents, it’s our job to put the phone down while we are driving and set the example.  Not only does it ensure that we are providing a safer ride for our children, but it also helps our kids learn safe behaviors. It also helps ensure other drivers we share the road with are safer too. Of the teens AT&T talked to for a survey on teens and driving, 77% said their parents text while driving.

And texting while driving is as dangerous as drinking and driving. It’s like driving down the road with your eyes closed for 5 or 10 seconds or more at times – driving blindly in a recipe for disaster.

That’s exactly why AT&T has launched their “It can Wait” campaign to encourage people NOT to text while driving. There is no message so important that it can’t wait if you’re behind the wheel driving. AT&T is asking everyone to join them on September 19, 2012 for a “No Text on Board – Pledge Day” and we’re joining them in this worthy effort.

There are plenty of reasons not to text while driving:

• It’s distracting
• You could have an accident and hurt yourself
• You could cause injury to your child
• You could hurt someone else on the road (or worse)
• Your life is more valuable
• You are a mom
• There are already too many distractions when driving
• It’s illegal!

Whatever the reason, it is important and we want to know “why it can wait” from your perspective.

Enter our Contest

We’re inviting our readers to leave a comment telling us “why texting while driving can wait”. Each entrant will be entered in a contest to receive an awesome Plantronics BackBeat GO – Bluetooth Stereo Headphone valued at $99.

Not only will you win a prize, but your comment may be the one that saves someone else from texting and driving – and causing an accident or worse.

We’ll post all of the comments we receive on a post here on Richmondmom.com on September 17, 2012. This will help encourage others to put down their phones while driving too. (The video below is difficult to watch, but it carries a vital message for all of us. A simple text message of “LOL” caused the death of someone hit by the person texting.)

Here’s how to enter:

1. Visit the AT&T website and sign the pledge to promise not to text while driving.
2. Then, click here to enter our contest and leave your comment.

We’ll post all comments and we’ll select a winner to receive the prize in a random drawing and announce it when the article is published. Be sure and take the pledge and PLEASE……forward this article to everyone you know and share it with your children. You may save a life.

About the Prize:

Plantronics BackBeat® GO wireless earbuds – incredibly small, amazingly light. No wires, no hassle, no compromise. Easily slips into your pocket, but still packs full‐on stereo sound. So you can listen to music, chat with friends, or watch movies on your tablet. Even play games on the go. And Bluetooth technology makes it a snap to connect wirelessly. Comfort? No problem. There are three sizes of cushioned eartips and two stabilizers for a secure, comfortable fit. Incoming call? Inline controls let you pause music to take a call, change volume, or skip tracks. Great sound in a small package. BackBeat GO. Get Going.

•  Ultralight wireless stereo earbuds
• Compact design goes anywhere
• Flat, tangle‐free cable
• Sound‐isolating buds for rich stereo sound
• Up to 4.5 hours of listening / talk time
• Perfect for smartphones and tablets
• Digital noise reduction for clear calls
• S, M, L eartips and stabilizers for a stable fit
• Inline controls for calls and music
• Onscreen battery meter