It’s that magical time when the leaves start to fall and kids are headed back to school. For some students, they’ll be driving themselves this year. It’s a scary time with many new drivers on the road and it’s important that their cars are ‘road ready’ and safe. Some students will be driving alone while others will be driving other classmates. Obviously, having a well-maintained car is at the top of every parent’s list, but with the added distractions that come with smart/cell phone ownership, having Bluetooth available to your young drivers can be a literal life saver.

“Bluetooth” is a wireless technology standard for exchanging data over short distances. It connects devices using radio waves from fixed and mobile devices and creates a personal area network. In short – it connects smart phones with larger networks – and it does this in a way that allows for a hands-free experience.

While smart phones connect us with so many everyday activities (they tell time, set reminders, give directions, keep a calendar and stream music) they also serve as a real-time connection between kids and parents during what has become a very busy life. While the technology is truly amazing, if not used in a safe way, that same technology can be dangerous.

While this applies to every driver – but new drivers especially – enabling Bluetooth in your car is a must. Since October 1, 2013, law enforcement has been permitted to stop any driver suspected of operating a handheld cell phone while behind the wheel. That said, using a handheld cell phone while driving has been a primary offense in Maryland since late 2013.

According to the Maryland Highway Safety Office, consider the following:

• 52 people are killed and over 6,700 people are injured in crashes involving teen or younger driver (16-20 years old) (2011-2015 5-year average)
• Between 2006 and 2015, 306 drivers ages 16-20 died on Maryland roads and nearly 33,000 were injured
• In 2015, 22% of all drivers 16-20 were indicated as being distracted in some way in motor vehicle crashes
• In a statewide survey (2015), 40% of drivers ages 15-20 admitted to recently using a cell phone without a hands-free device while driving, and 35% admitted to recently texting while driving
• 68% of fatal crashes involving drivers 16-20 years old occurred in Maryland’s 8 most populous jurisdictions (Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Frederick, Harford, Howard, Montgomery, and Prince George’s Counties and Baltimore City)

And Nationally:

• In 2010, over 3,000 people died in crashes involving a distracted driver, and nearly half a million were injured
• More than 800,000 vehicles are being driven by someone using a hand-held cell phone at any given moment during daylight hours
• Research shows drivers who use hand-held devices are four times as likely to get into crashes serious enough to injure themselves

The Good News

CarWorx can not only give your car a system check on it’s moving parts, but they can set you and your new drivers up with Bluetooth so they can stream that music, talk to Siri, phone home, check those directions and even send that text. In the end, Bluetooth will keep your driver safe and give you peace of mine. Call CarWorx and make an appointment today – you’ll be glad you did and your kids (for once) will thank you!