8m drivers 'driven to distraction' by children

Three out of five drivers have driven on auto-pilot, with no recollection of travelling from A to B, because of the distraction caused by children, according to new research from LV= General Insurance.

The car insurer's study revealed that eight million drivers cited their children as a primary reason for loss of concentration when driving. Of nearly 150,000 road accidents that occurred last year, officials at the Department of Transport estimate that 2,895 were caused by distractions inside the vehicle.

Interestingly enough - considering the recent spate of legislation against using mobile phones when driving and proposals from the Local Authority Road Safety Officers' Association (LARSOA) to ban motorists from smoking behind the wheel – drivers voted that children were more likely to cause them distraction than using mobile phones, audio equipment, eating, drinking or using satellite navigation.

LV= found that 57 per cent of drivers admitted to having driven without any recollection of how they got to their destination. More specifically, 59 per cent of women and 54 per cent of men admitted to driving on auto-pilot at some point, while 12 per cent of drivers aged between 18 and 29 admitted to being afflicted by a total loss of concentration on a regular basis. Conversely, only four per cent of the over 50s crowd admitted such.

"On today's busy roads, with 16 per cent of accidents having fatal or serious consequences, it is vital to maintain 100 per cent concentration when behind the wheel," commented Andrew Beard, a spokesperson for LV=. "It is frightening to think when can happen in the split second when drivers take their mind off the road."

The survey indicated that fiddling with the CD player causes 57 per cent of drivers to look away from the road and 13 per cent to drive erratically, while smoking accounted for a loss of concentration in 28 per cent of respondents and caused 28 per cent to operate the vehicle with only one hand on the wheel.

"With the holiday season just around the corner, many families will be setting off on longer than usual car journeys," warned Mr Beard. "Preparation is the key to help avoid in-car distractions. Packing the car with travel games and books before you set off will help to keep the children amused whilst on the move. You may also want to think about getting your CDs loaded and your radio tuned, so you can listen to your favourite tracks without having to fiddle with the audio equipment."

He also recommended that drivers travelling long distances should map out the best route beforehand and plan for regular stops: "Taking breaks enables drivers to rest and allows children and pets to exert pent up energy. All of these things should help keep drivers minds focused solely on the road."

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