Driving while texting is responsible for approximately 330,000 injuries a year, and The National Safety Council reports that 1 our of every 4 car accidents in the US is caused by texting while driving. Now if those statistics are not enough to make your question your habit of texting in the driver's seat, I don't know what is. In order to make our roads and our families safer, here are some tips for how to stop texting while driving that everyone should be following.

Download an App

App such as LifeSaver on iPhone and Drive Safe Mode for both Apple and Android devices work by blocking the ability to text message while you're driving. For example, Drive Safe Mode blocks texting based on acceleration speed. It also allows you to monitor other phones, and notifies you if for example your teen tries to disable or not use Drive Safe Mode. Pretty handy, right?

Download one of these apps to keep your family safer, and to deter your habit of texting while driving.

Put Your Cell Phone Out of Reach

If you still have issues with texting while driving, Virtual Drive recommends putting your cell phone out of reach while you're in the car. Try putting your cell phone in the glove box or middle compartment while you're driving.

This is a good idea no matter what. Your phone is less likely to get lost in a car accident if you need to phone for help.

Plan Your Stops

Don't use the fact that you have to drive long distances as an excuse for texting while driving. Plan your trip by notifying important friends and family members beforehand. Text them any pertinent information before you leave.

Plan your stops along the way, and text while you're taking a break from driving. Friends and family deserve to have you safe, rather than texting something that can wait until you are done driving.

Don't Use Hands-Free Texting

Despite many claims that hands-free texting will make texting while driving safer, studies have shown that this is not case. Texting while driving is dangerous no matter how you do it.

Voice texting has shown to be just as dangerous as manual texting. Response times are still greatly impaired with both methods.

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Play it safe, and swear off all texting while driving.

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Vanessa Pruitt, PLMHP, MS

Vanessa is a Provisionally Licensed Mental Health Practitioner in Nebraska and holds an MS in Clinical Psychology. She is a certified trauma professional with a special interest in helping people heal from trauma and complex trauma.

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