Driving with children is often a necessary undertaking for many parents. Unfortunately, it can also be one of the most dangerous distractions that motorists ultimately grapple with as they seek to go from here to there. While texting and phone use are often highlighted as major causes of distracted driving, the presence of children in a vehicle can be equally, if not more, distracting under certain circumstances.
Children, especially young ones, can demand a lot of attention from their parents, no matter where they are. Whether it’s a crying baby, a toddler throwing a tantrum or siblings arguing in the back seat, these situations can easily divert a driver’s focus away from the road. Studies have shown that the average parent can spend up to 20% of their time driving focused on their children rather than the road, which can lead to dangerous situations.
Why child-inspired distractions are a big deal
Distractions inspired by children often require parents to take their eyes off the road, their hands off the wheel and their mind off driving—three key types of distracted driving that can lead to accidents. The risks associated with distracted driving are significant. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), distracted driving was responsible for nearly 3,000 deaths in the United States in 2019 alone.
When a parent’s attention is split between driving and managing their children, their ability to react quickly to changing road conditions is compromised. This delayed reaction time can result in rear-end collisions, swerving into other lanes or failing to stop at traffic signals, for example.
While it isn’t always possible to avoid – or even significantly minimize – child-inspired distractions while parents are driving, understanding the seriousness of this issue can help parents to react more thoughtfully when their children demand their attention on the road.