The Most Significant Driving Distraction for Parents – Kids in the Backseat
The attention focused on distracted driving has raised public awareness considerably about the dangers of attempting to multi-task while operating a motor vehicle. While traditional distractions like chatting with passengers, adjusting the radio, reading a newspaper and grooming continue to be a problem, most government safety campaigns have focused on the dangers posed by electronic devices like cellphones. Certainly, these types of distractions justify the attention garnered by government regulators and media sources, but parents can face a serious distraction that receives much less attention – their kids sitting in the backseat.
A study conducted by Australian researchers and reported by CBS found that kids in the backseat were twelve times more distracting than talking on a cell phone while operating a motor vehicle. The researchers determined that the average parent took their eyes off the road an average of 21 percent of the time, which amounted to 3 minutes and 22 seconds during a brief sixteen minute excursion. While breaking up arguments between siblings was a common problem, the most serious distraction might involve dealing with fussy babies. Another study conducted by AAA found that babies are eight times more distracting to drivers than adult passengers.
"Lots of attention has been given to distracted teen drivers," according to Michelle Macy, lead author of a recent study reported in the American Academy of Pediatrics. "However, our results indicate parent are frequently distracted while driving their 1-to-12-year old children, and these drivers were more likely to have been in a crash."
Because drivers who avert their eyes from the road for even a few seconds can easily rear-end a stopped vehicle or run over a young child attempting to cross the street, parents with children need to be aware of the danger of distractions caused by child passengers. When drivers collide with other vehicles or hit bicyclists or pedestrians because their attention is not fully focused on driving, they can be held financially responsible for causing a car accident.
If you are injured by someone else's negligence, you may be entittled to compensation for property damage, medical bills, pain and suffering, diminished earning capacity and other forms of financial loss. Insurance companies often use a range of tactics to minimize payments on legitimate claims or to avoid paying claims altogether. Our experienced Atlanta car accident lawyers at Montlick and Associates can assist you in navigating these insurance company traps, and we work hard to get our clients the compensation they deserve.
Put Our Law Firm's Over 39 Years of Experience to Work For Your Accident Injury Case!
If you or someone close to you has suffered serious injury in a car accident, contact our experienced Atlanta personal injury attorneys to learn how we can help. Montlick and Associates has been representing those who suffer serious injuries throughout all of Georgia and the Southeast for over thirty years, including but not limited to all smaller cities and rural areas in the state.
No matter where you are located our attorneys are just a phone call away, and we will even come to you. Call us 24 hours a day/7 days a week for your Free Consultation at 1-800-LAW-NEED (1-800-529-6333). You can also visit us online at www.montlick.com and use our Free Case Evaluation Form or 24-hour Live Online Chat.
Sources:
http://chicago.cbslocal.com/2013/05/09/forget-cell-phones-kids-in-the-car-are-even-more-distracting/