Parenting Australia

Kiddy distraction an accident waiting to happen, new research reveals

Aussie parents have identified being distracted by their children while driving as a significant issue with one in five saying it has led to an accident or a ‘near miss’ a new study by online car insurer The Buzz (a company of IAG) has found. Parents say youngsters being impatient and whining, asking ‘are we there yet?’ wanting to go to the toilet, crying uncontrollably, fighting, or being car sick are relatively common distractions for them.

The Buzz Kiddy Distraction Study – Keep ‘Em Occupied And Safe revealed 95% of parents have been distracted by their children when driving, 75% find driving with kids can be stressful and 40% have difficulty controlling their offspring in the car.

CEO, The Buzz, Jacki Johnson said kiddy distraction is an important issue in the lead up to the Christmas holidays when families across the nation get ready to hit the road.

“Any sort of distraction that encourages drivers to take their eyes off the road is potentially dangerous,” Ms Johnson said.

“Unfortunately, while we can choose when to use a mobile phone or be distracted by food, drink or a GPS, fighting, screaming or upset children often invoke an instant response from the driver that may take their eyes from the road at a critical moment.”

The survey, conducted online by Newspoll nationally at the end of November among 267 drivers with children aged under eight, found two-thirds have raised their voice at their children, 48% have stopped the car and 17% have turned around and gone back home. A worrying finding was that nearly 30% of parents say they have turned around to talk to their kids in the back seat while driving.

The Buzz has overlaid its own findings from the IAG Research Centre to help parents understand some consequences of being distracted by their children while driving. According to Ms Johnson, turning around to deal with children when distracted by could be lethal. “Under any circumstances, it’s dangerous to take your eyes off the road and turn around when you’re upset or agitated, because when you do it often results in turning the wheel at the same time,” she explained.

“When you take your eyes off the road, even for one second, your car travels nearly 17 metres or almost four car lengths. At freeway speeds this means that your eyes are off the road for more than 30 metres.”

Ms Johnson said parents should take some time out not only to get the car prepared for a trip but also to make sure the kids have enough to keep occupied on the road. Once on the road, regular ‘pit stops’ to let the kids have a run around or to have a toilet break are highly recommended.

In the study parents have demonstrated to others about how to keep kids occupied, and safe. In-car DVDs or hand-held games are commonly used by parents. Parents say they have played music (done by 75% of parents), got them to play games like I Spy (53%), put on a DVD (30%), or let them play hand-held computer games (27%). Ms Johnson recommended that only the non-driving parent should interact with children during car trips with kids being discouraged from talking to the parent or carer who is driving.

The research shows parents of children aged four to seven have more problems when driving with them than those with babies and toddlers. While tiny tots are more likely to wail in their capsule or booster-seat, older children are worse at winging, having trouble ‘holding on’, squabbling and vomiting.

The Buzz Kiddie Distraction Study – Keep ‘Em Occupied And Safe investigates to what degree having young children in the car distracts drivers, the annoying things kids do, the effect on parents and how mums and dads keep their offspring entertained while driving.

For a free copy of the results as well as tips and tricks for keeping little ones amused in the car without involving the driver visit www.thebuzzinsurance.com.au.

More information: Contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

What’s The Buzz? The Buzz (www.thebuzzinsurance.com.au) is an innovative Australia online car insurer, genuinely shaped by the community. It’s for busy people who want to manage their insurance quickly, easily and online 24/7It was awarded the Banking & Finance Insurance Innovation Award 2009. The Buzz is part of Insurance Australia Group (IAG), an international group employing around 15,000 people in businesses which underwrite around $7.8 billion of premium each year.

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