In 2023, 7% of drivers ages 15-20 involved in fatal crashes were reported as distracted, the largest proportion for any age group. January is National Teen Driving Awareness month, and UScellular is providing tips and resources for parents and teenagers about built-in phone features, apps and other resources to help prevent distracted driving.

“Mobile devices can be a great tool to enhance safety and security while on the roadways,” said Thomas White, director of retail sales and operations for UScellular in eastern North Carolina. “However, if someone is distracted by a device, it can quickly become a liability. It is imperative that safe driving protocols are established and maintained before and while on the road.”   

For National Teen Driving Awareness, UScellular offers the following tips to help prevent distracted driving.

·        Establish your own rules of the road. A simple yet effective step is to establish rules and expectations with your teen. UScellular offers a free Smarter Start Toolkit that includes a customizable parent-child agreement to help families outline appropriate phone usage while driving such as not texting and driving, keeping location apps active and night-time driving limitations.

·        Get situated before setting out. Before hitting the road, connect your smartphone to your vehicle’s CarPlay or Bluetooth, if available. Be sure to then set the phone out of the way or use a mounting device like the Scosche 4-in-1 Universal Car Mount. Drivers should confirm sightlines are clear and their hands are not touching their device before heading out.

·        Use US Mode. Built-in phone features are available to help drivers stay focused on the road. Using the native settings on your device, UScellular’s tech experts can help put your phone in US Mode, which can help limit notifications and distractions and reduce the calls and texts you receive while driving.

·        Take advantage of apps. A wide range of applications are available to help share your location, monitor driving speeds, and even detect real-time accidents. Life360 and Find My Family are two great options for download.

About UScellular

UScellular is the fourth-largest full-service wireless carrier in the United States, providing national network coverage and industry-leading innovations designed to help customers stay connected to the things that matter most. The Chicago-based carrier provides a strong, reliable network supported by the latest technology and offers a wide range of communication services that enhance consumers’ lives, increase the competitiveness of local businesses and improve the efficiency of government operations. Through its After School Access Project, the company has donated more than $30 million in hotspots and service to help youth connect to reliable internet. To learn more about UScellular, visit one of its retail stores or www.uscellular.com. To get the latest news, visit newsroom.uscellular.com.