According to recent studies, texting while driving is one of the most dangerous behaviors to engage in on the road and can be a critical risk factor in car accidents. In this episode of The Lab, Daddy Clay and Daddy Brad tackle this important safety issue inside a VW Routon minivan. How do you keep your kids safe when so much time is spent in the vehicle and your cellular phone is on the receiving end of constant communication through phone calls and text messages? The dads offer a few tips on how to avoid your cell phone while driving. They'll also tell you who to contact to influence cell phone laws. Special thanks to Charles Maund Volkswagen. DadLabs Ep. 552 The Lab is brought to you by BabyBjorn.

Daddy Clay: You would never do this. So, why would you do this?

Texts "Hey Owen, I'm driving right now. The kids will tell me if I'm headed into something."

Right guys? Let me know if there's any oncoming traffic.

 

Clay: Hey there, welcome back to The Lab. I'm Daddy Clay.

Brad: And I'm Daddy Brad. This episode of The Lab is brought to you by BabyBjorn. BabyBjorn - the best baby gear in the world.

Clay: You know, modern moms and dads are spending more and more time with their kids right in there.

Brad: And the question is - how do we keep our kids safe with the modern requirements of staying in touch?

Clay: The latest research shows that someone who's texting while driving is 18 to 23 times more likely to be the cause of an accident which is nuts. It's just off the charts. Now this may be because the average person, when sending or receiving a text or an email, looks down at their device and away from the road for about 5 seconds. At highway speeds, that's the length of a football field. And it ought to be illegal. And it is in a lot of states. But it's kind of a crazy quilt of laws. Here in Texas, for example, it is illegal to text and drive but only if you're a novice driver or a bus driver. Which doesn't really make me feel all that good.

Brad: The news is not good for just talking on your cell phone either because you're 3 times more likely to cause an accident. That puts you in the same category as someone who's legally drunk. Now this VW Routon is equipped with all the latest safety features - air bags and analog brakes. But, you nullify all of those if you're talking on your cell phone. Put on the hands-free device - doesn't help you much. Studies show you're still at risk. Distracted is distracted.

Clay: Okay, Daddy Brad, the research is clear. But let's get real. Who is gonna be able to not text or answer their phone when the kids are in the car. Is it even possible?

Brad: Yes, it's possible. We have to do it. I know, you may spend 2 or 3 hours in the car but out kids safety is at stake. You've got to turn it off, put it down, no texting, no talking.

Clay: That thing goes off in your pocket, you're getting that shot of adrenalin. I feel so important, I feel needed. You're gonna answer that phone.

Brad: I know, you know what I have to do?

Clay: What do you do?

Brad: Turn it off. I have to turn it off. When I get in the car, turn it off.

Clay: Every time? You turn it off? I've actually heard of some guys that'll have to put it in the trunk of the car in order to refrain from answering.

Brad: You gotta do it. Whatever you have to do, you gotta go cold turkey, turn it off. Put it in the glove compartment.

Clay: There should be a national law. So maybe we should start lobbying for that. We need to write our Congressmen and Senators and tell them hey - we need a national law that bans texting and driving for the sake of our children.

Brad: It's our kids safety at stake. We'd like to thank our sponsor BabyBjorn - the best baby gear in the world, BabyBjorn. If you have any ideas about how to get off your Crackberry when you're driving, drop us a line at DadLabs.com and let us know.

Clay: Yeah, join the conversation there. We're gonna be talking about cell phones, driving safety, that kind of thing. We'll have tips about how to contact your local politicians and try and get laws passed there. DadLabs.com. You know, we like all things European whether it's BabyBjorn or this cool VW. We're really into it. We'll see you next time on The Lab.

Brad: It's very roomy in here.

Clay: Yeah.

Brad: Set up an office. It's nicer than our office.