One driving distraction that can be very hard for some adults to avoid is having their children in the car with them. Many parents have to transport their children to and from school every day during the school year. Over the summer, they may have to transport them to daycare or to a grandparent’s house.
Children can be very distracting for their parents, as illustrated by these activities parents reported engaging in:
- Handling toys and entertainment options: 40% of parents claimed they did this while driving the car
- Handing the toddler a drink: 80%
- Handing the toddler a snack: 78%
- Dealing with disagreements and sibling interactions: 69%
- Handling tantrums or fussy children: 67%
It is often very hard for parents to ignore their children in the car, even if they know doing so would be safer, so these distractions are a constant risk.
How can parents stay safe?
The biggest thing parents can do to avoid these distractions is to handle issues in advance. If a child is going to watch their tablet in the car, the parent should set it up before they start driving. They can distribute snacks and drinks in advance. They can talk to children about their behavior and reiterate that they should not be arguing or fighting in the car.
Being proactive can lower the risk, but nothing eliminates it entirely. Even parents who seek to avoid common driving distractions, such as texting and driving, could find themselves facing challenges regarding their children.
If you have been injured in an accident that was caused by a distracted driver, you may deserve financial compensation for medical bills, pain and suffering, lost wages and other damages.
