Distracted Driving – Parents are Guilty, Too

In recent years, a lot of attention has been paid to the dangers of distracted driving among teenage drivers.  There is good reason to be worried.  According to recent statistics, 11% of drivers under the age of 20 involved in fatal car accident injuries were reported as driving distracted at the time of the car accident.  As a consequence, there has been a significant push to ensure that teenage drivers are not texting and driving, talking on their cell phones while driving, or participating in any other forms of distracted driving.

Parents Engage in Distracted Driving as Often as Teen Drivers

While many teen drivers are guilty of distracted driving, a recent study has shown that parents may be just as guilty of distracted driving as teen drivers.  In particular, it appears that parents often attempt to “multitask” while driving their children.  In fact, about 90% of parents reported technology-related multitasking.  For instance, many parents talk on the phone, text, or change a DVD or CD while driving their children.  About 70% of parents perform childcare duties while driving, such as feeding their child or picking up a dropped toy.  Furthermore, 70% of parents admit that they participate in “self-care” while driving, such as grooming or eating.

The study also found that about half of parents attempted to find directions while driving their children, either by using a map or GPS.  Texting was the least common distraction, with only slightly more than 10 percent of parents reporting texting while driving in the last month.

Parents who multi-task while driving appear to be worse drivers.  For instance, multi-tasking was more common among parents who reported being in a car accident at some point in their lives compared to parents who had never been in a crash.

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Contact Morris Bart about Your Distracted Driving Car Accident Injuries

If you have been involved in a car accident injury with a distracted driver, please contact the personal injury attorneys at Morris Bart, LLC Attorneys at Law today.  We offer a free case evaluation with our personal injury attorneys, who will review the details of your case and advise you on the best approach to getting the compensation you deserve for your car accident injury.

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