Parenting Pointers: Use Tech to Stop Teens from Texting and Driving

You know it's really dangerous to text while driving - but you do it anyways because sometimes it's necessary, especially during small emergencies. So why not make a New Year's resolution to stop this risky textual practice and look at some alternatives when texting is impossible to avoid?

If you're ready to practice "safe texting" in your car in 2014, simply follow these easy guidelines, and you'll be safe and sound on the road. Tips from Kulveer Taggar, CEO, Agent.

TIP 1: GO HANDS FREE
Buy a charging cradle for their cell phones to place on the car dashboard, so that your teen is never tempted to thumb his way through that red light. Costing just $10 on average, they're a cheap way to lower your risk of an accident.

TIP 2: CHANNEL SIRI
Apple's SIRI is a personal assistant apps that can do the dialing or texting for your young driver - so that they don't end up at the bottom of the ditch while trying to text back their bff. 

TIP 3: USE PRE-LOADED RESPONSES
Many car makers like Nissan install pre-loaded technology in their cars like a hands-free text messaging assistant that can read text messages aloud and respond with stored responses, using voice-recognition technology. Make sure their next car has this new tech. 

TIP 4: JUST WAIT!
Though useful, hands-free texting is still not as safe as simply waiting until you've pulled over to text. So why not teach them to pull over safely on the side of the road if they must text while they drive? 

What's even better, the Agent free app for your Android phone uses bluetooth to detect when a person is in his/her car to automatically silence your teen's phone, read your texts aloud, and respond to incoming texts to let the caller know they are driving.