Driving distractions are among the leading causes of car accidents. There are different types of driving distractions, but talking to other vehicle occupants is one of the most common ones. Parents are particularly at risk of getting distracted by other passengers while behind the wheel, given how distracting can children be while riding in the back seat of a car.
Serious Safety Issue
According to a study from the University of Michigan, 90% of parents admit that they engage in at least one distraction related to their kids while driving. A different study conducted by researchers with the Melbourne-based Monash University a couple of years ago, showed that kids are 12 percent more distracting to drivers than cell phones, distracting drivers for an average of 3 minutes and 22 seconds during a 16-minute trip.
With this in mind, it’s clear that parents must make sure their kids behave well in the car and don’t create any distractions, in order to reduce the risk of accidents.
Keep Them Occupied
In order to prevent their kids from becoming a distraction, the first thing that parents should do is make sure they make the necessary preparations before they hit the road. Kids need to be occupied with something during the trip so that they don’t bother their parents. That’s why parents should pack some toys, as well as a few games that can be safely played in a car, to keep the kids busy and entertained, which should prevent them from constantly talking to the parents and distracting them.
Impose Restrictions
Also, parents should set some boundaries for the kids beforehand, letting them know that certain types of behavior in the car – such as bickering, screaming, throwing toys or other objects around, fighting with their siblings, or kicking the front seats from behind, can jeopardize the safety of all occupants.
Reward Them for Good Behavior
Furthermore, as another good way to ensure their kids behave, after explaining the rules and setting the boundaries, parents can set up a reward and recognition system, giving the kids tasty treats if they obey the rules. If the kids don’t play by the rules, parents can ground them or impose some other type of punishment as a consequence, so that they can know that this type of behavior will not be tolerated and so that they can be less of a distraction during the next trip.