It is certainly true that cellphones are a major distraction while driving. Many car accidents happen because people are texting, talking on the phone, taking pictures or even browsing social media. Distracted driving has always been an issue, but smartphones have accelerated it.
That said, there is evidence that having children in the car may be even more distracting for parents than using a phone. One study examined how long parents spent looking away from the road to deal with their children. During a 16-minute trip, parents averaged three minutes and 22 seconds of looking away from the road. In other words, for almost a quarter of their drive, they were focused on their kids instead of the traffic around them.
A difficult distraction to avoid
Part of the problem is that there is not much parents can do to avoid being distracted by their children. Even if they actively try to avoid turning around to pick up dropped items or handing out snacks and drinks, they still have to listen to their children and interact with them. This distraction may happen every time they take their kids to school, the store or any other routine destination.
With cellphones, drivers always have the option to avoid distraction. Any driver can turn their phone off and put it away, eliminating the risk of causing an accident while texting. But parents do not have that choice—they have to transport their kids, and inherent distractions come along with it.
As a result, distracted driving accidents will continue to happen. If you have suffered injuries, take the time to carefully look into your options for seeking compensation.
