If You REALLY Want To Curb Your Teen From Distracted Driving - Give Them A Stick Shift

If You REALLY Want To Curb Your Teen From Distracted Driving - Give Them A Stick Shift
So you're out shopping for a car for your teen.  Dealers say most parents go for the automatic, as that's what they're kid probably trained on in driver's ed.

Sixteen-year-old Riley Johnson's parents went the opposite direction. The shifting of the gears on the Mazda 3 requires Riley to stay busy.

“I'll always have my hand in the middle dash area,” he said. “I can't really drink anything, until like I'm at a stop light or anything.”

Riley's parents took notice of all those messages about the risks of using a phone while driving - too many sad stories. And while they trust their son, they're not taking any chances.

Riley has a smart phone, but when he gets in the car, it goes into a compartment. Blue Tooth?  That might come later. But the car forces Riley to keep one hand on the wheel, and the other on the stick, especially in city traffic. 
Read Article

ParadoXParadoX - 5/8/2013 2:07:20 PM
+1 Boost
Yeah that makes sense, but you are probably going to get stuck with the bill when they burn out the clutch.


CarCrazedinCaliCarCrazedinCali - 5/8/2013 3:34:15 PM
+6 Boost
better than them dying from an accident from distraction, you be the judge


nguyenvuminhnguyenvuminh - 5/8/2013 3:05:46 PM
+4 Boost
Interesting perspective and logic. Sounds right on the surface though.


vdivvdiv - 5/8/2013 3:45:48 PM
+2 Boost
Hmm, should look for a 7 or 8 gear tranny then, it seems 5 just doesn't cut it these days ;)


nguyenvuminhnguyenvuminh - 5/8/2013 3:52:26 PM
+2 Boost
@vdiv - that's funny


MorePowerMorePower - 5/8/2013 5:39:43 PM
+1 Boost
Getting them a Manual transmission will only delay the inevitable. With time, practice and warrant disrespect, teens will master the manual transmission to the point where they will be shifting, texting and snap chatting while driving.

We're not talking about traveling faster than the speed of light or connecting two very distant points in space by a massive, cascading gravity well.



Agent009Agent009 - 5/9/2013 11:16:18 AM
+1 Boost
Where there is a will, there is a way
Copyright 2026 AutoSpies.com, LLC