I will not text and drive.

In fact, I will not check my email, Facebook, or Twitter while driving.

Better yet, I will  keep my cell phone in my purse, the backseat, or the glove compartment to resist the urge.

It may not be this simple when it comes to teens and texting while driving; but it’s certainly worth a try. With recent research conducted by the CDC, we now know that a whopping 45% of teens admit to texting while driving. Even with laws against texting, it didn’t seem to make a difference.

We also know that one of the most dangerous things that teens do is drive (car accidents are the number one cause of death in teens). Add in texting while driving and the risk for serious injury and/or death multiplies. The research also found that teens who text and drive also engage in other risky behaviors such as underage drinking or riding in a car without a seatbelt.

We know that we need to do more and constantly educate our teens about the dangers of texting and driving.

So do this today.

If you don’t have a cell phone contract with your teen yet. Draw one up. There are several good examples on the internet on what to include. But feel free to use your own parental common sense. Be sure to add in the part about texting and driving. Please.

And? Check out this handy app (called The Canary Project) that I just came across yesterday from Stephanie Mullen, mom to two teen boys and blogger at Ooph.

This is not the time to let our guards down parents. We want our teens to be safe out there on the road. And maybe sleep a little better too at night knowing we are doing all we can to make sure they are.

And if you’re a teen reading this…please, please, please…don’t risk it. Don’t text and drive. You have a future to get to.