Kids drive you to distraction

There's been much debate on whether hands-free phone calls are safe to take while driving, but new research reveals that the number one distraction to drivers is in fact their own children.

A UK survey conducted by ContractHireAndLeasing.com reveals that children are far more likely to distract drivers from their task than anything else; of the 500 people polled by the study, 53 per cent said child passengers were the biggest distraction while driving.

By comparison, answering hands-free phone calls was nominated as the biggest distraction by just 18 per cent of those polled.

It's a telling statistic as earlier studies such as 'Role of mobile phones in motor vehicle crashes resulting in hospital attendance: a case-crossover study', carried out by the University of Sydney, has concluded that using hands-free phones is no safer than using hand-held devices while driving.
 
The UK survey points out, with some validity: "Despite evidence that child passengers are more distracting than either phones or satnav systems, there has been little campaign support from road safety authorities to help motorists deal with the real in-car dangers; their own passengers".

The website suggests advice should be given to drivers to help them plan journeys by making sure their junior passengers are adequately catered for before setting off. Likewise adult passengers need to be considerate to the task which the driver is undertaking, allowing them to give full attention to the road.

"Undoubtedly people require 100 per cent mental focus when behind the steering wheel. Ensuring that children have some form of entertainment in the car is one of the best things you can do to try and keep them from misbehaving while in the car," said the website's spokesperson, Richard Lawton.

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