(ABC News)--People have been caught doing all sorts things that distract them behind
the wheel -- from eating an ice cream cone to talking on a cell phone
to driving drunk -- but one of the worst distractions might be something
parents do every day: driving with kids in the backseat of the car.
In a first-of-its-kind study, Australian researchers found that children
are 12 times more distracting to the driver than talking on a cell
phone while at the wheel. According to their findings, the average
parent takes their eyes off the road for a staggering three minutes and
22 seconds during a 16-minute trip.
When kids are in the car, parents are breaking up fights between
squabbling siblings and calming fussy babies. By the way, those babies
are eight times more distracting to the driver than adult passengers,
according to AAA.
So I put myself to the test. A mother of two, I consider myself a safe
driver, but I didn't realize the danger I was subjecting my children to
until I mounted GoPro cameras to my van to capture a typical Saturday
morning.
Charlie Klauer, a transportation engineer for Virginia Tech's
Transportation Institute and a distracted-driving expert, along with her
team analyze dangerous driving habits, what they call
"eyes-off-the-road" moments. They agreed to evaluate the footage of both
my driving and my husband's driving with our kids.
In one instance, Klauer pointed out that I was driving 55 to 60 miles
per hour on the highway and my "eyes-off-the-road" time to glance at the
kids was four seconds. In another, Klauer noted that I was distracted
when one of my kids handed me his empty snack wrapper. And in another, I
reached for my cell phone, taking my eyes off the road for six seconds.
"We've done some analysis looking at text messages, for example," she
said. "A text message typically takes seven to eight, nine seconds to do
and a driver's eyes are off the forward roadway at least half the time,
if not more than that."
I had also adjusted my rearview mirror so I could keep an eye on my kids, and in another moment I was adjusting the DVD player.
Fathers are supposed to be the worst offenders. According the Australian
study, children distract the men more and for longer periods of time.
But in my family's case, Klauer only found one driving issue with my husband.
"The rearview mirror is also, I believe, positioned to look at the children," she said.
It can be stressful, but there are solutions. Experts say the first
thing to do is set up car rules so your kids know what to expect. If
they drop something, parents need to make sure they know the driver
cannot pick it up until the car stops.
If you are tempted to take a phone call, which puts the kids in even
more danger, consider using an app like Zoom Safer. It blocks incoming
calls and text messages by sending an automated response saying you are
driving and will answer when you can.
And if you can't feed the kids before you leave, keep a snack bag close
by – one of the few things I did right when I was behind the wheel.
Out of 10, Klauer said she would rate my safety skills at a "five to six." A failing grade.
"The mirror is kind of bad," she said.
I'll work on that.
Copyright 2013 by ABC News
