It's one thing to teach teens when it's appropriate to text vs. talking face to face, i.e. breaking up via text is lame. It's another to talk to them about texting and driving. The first conversation is about being rude or insensitive, the second is about life or death. You might begin this second conversation with a story. A sad, deadly true story that just happened in New York. It begins like this:

"Text messages were sent back and forth on a 17-year-old girl's cell phone moments before her sport utility vehicle slammed head-on into a truck, killing her and four other recent high school graduates, police said Friday."

You can then talk about how even when driving seems like it's second nature because you can futz with the radio station or have a conversation with your friends, looking down at your phone to send or receive a text message means you're not looking at the road. There is no way you can do both. And if they say, "But mom [or dad], you do it!" Then it's time for both of you to sign a pact promising not to text while driving.

One New York senator is proposing legislation: "This bill would prohibit the writing, sending or reading of text messages on mobile phones while driving."

While legislation may eventually become a deterrent, nothing can replace the conversation parents need to have with teens about this very serious issue.

Update: Check out this great resource by and for teen drivers called Teens In The Driver's Seat.