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SALT LAKE CITY — The greatest distraction to your driving isn't your cell phone or radio. It's the kids in your backseat, a new study suggests.
A study out of Australia found that drivers are 12 times more distracted by children than cell phones while driving.
The authors noted that parents take their eyes off the road for an average time of three minutes and 22 seconds of a 16-minute trip. Fathers, they said, tend to be more distracted for longer periods of time than mothers.
For drivers distracted by technology, the industry has created apps that lock your phone while you're driving, hands-free technology and other answers to a lethal problem. For children, though, parents don't have the luxury of installing an app that quiets them, and they can't always ignore crying babes like they would a ringing cell phone.
In an interview with ABC News, Charlie Klauer, a transportation engineer for Virginia Tech's Transportation Institute and a distracted driving expert, had a few suggestions for parents.
She suggested setting car rules beforehand, so kids know what to expect. These rules can include noise control (no screaming) and rules about picking up a dropped toy or throwing away trash only after the car is stopped.
Klauer also recommended feeding kids ahead of time, or keeping snack bags within reach of the kids. She also said keeping the rearview mirror on the road — not the kids — is important to safe driving.
As for phone calls? Using a combination of self-control and apps that block calls and texts while you're driving keeps everyone safer, she said.
