About Careers Internship MedBlog Contact us
Medindia LOGIN REGISTER
Advertisement

Many Parents Multi-task While Driving Kids: Survey

by Rukmani Krishna on May 8, 2013 at 11:02 PM
 Many Parents Multi-task While Driving Kids: Survey

According to survey results that will be presented May 5 and 6 at the Pediatric Academic Societies (PAS) annual meeting in Washington, DC, many parents are putting their precious cargo at risk while driving.

Researchers from the University of Michigan surveyed more than 600 parents to find out what distractions they face while driving with their children, whether they use age-appropriate child restraints and if they had ever been in a motor vehicle accident.

Advertisement

"Lots of attention has been given to distracted teen drivers. However, our results indicate parents are frequently distracted while driving their 1- to 12-year-old children, and these distracted drivers were more likely to have been in a crash," said lead author Michelle L. Macy, MD, MS, FAAP, clinical lecturer in the Departments of Emergency Medicine and Pediatrics at University of Michigan and C.S. Mott Children's Hospital.

Parents were surveyed while their children were being treated at one of two Michigan emergency rooms for any reason. Participants were asked how often they engaged in distracting behaviors while driving with their child over the last month. These behaviors included talking on the phone (hands-free or handheld), texting/surfing the Internet, self-care (grooming, eating) child care (picking up a toy, feeding their child), getting directions (navigation system, map) and changing a CD or DVD.
Advertisement

Parents also were asked whether they use a seatbelt, what type of restraint their child uses and their motivation to use the recommended restraint for their child's size. Demographic information, including race, education and income, also was collected.

Responses to questions on distracted driving showed the following:
  • Almost 90 percent of drivers reported engaging in at least one technology-based distraction while driving their child in the past month, and most drivers reported engaging in four of the 10 distractions asked about in the study.
  • Drivers who reported engaging in distracting behaviors were more likely to report having ever been in a crash.
  • Drivers of children who were not restrained in an age-appropriate restraint based on Michigan law (car seat for children ages 1-3, car seat or booster seat for those 4-7 years old, booster seat or seat belt for 8- to 12-year-olds) had 2.5 times higher odds of reporting a child-related distraction than drivers of children who were restrained in accordance with Michigan law.

"Our research has identified some high-impact areas to improve child passenger safety," Dr. Macy said. "Distracted driving while children are in the car is common, and many children are not using the right safety seat for their size."

Other findings showed:
  • Parents who reported always wearing a seat belt were significantly more likely to report their child always uses the age-appropriate restraint.
  • Parents who were motivated "from within" to use a safety seat (agreement with statements such as "It is an important choice I really want to make.") were significantly more likely to report age-appropriate restraint use, while external motivations (for example: "Others would be upset with me.") were not associated with age-appropriate restraint use.
  • Parents of minority race/ethnicity were significantly less likely to report their child always uses the age-appropriate restraint compared with white parents, even after controlling for education, income, child age, motivation to use a safety seat and personal seat belt use.

"It is concerning that, in our study population, race is playing such a prominent role in the use of car seats. The underlying reasons are not fully explained by differences in education or income," Dr. Macy said. "The impact of parental motivation to use car seats also needs to be better understood."

Source: Eurekalert
Font : A-A+

Advertisement

Advertisement
Advertisement

Recommended Readings

Latest Lifestyle and Wellness News

What Really Happens to Your Skin After Cleansing?
The 'tight' sensation on your face after washing is explained by skin contraction in the outer layer.
Skin Hotspots in Ears & Toes - Safe Haven for Harmful Germs
The skin between the toes and behind the ears can harbor many harmful germs that can cause a variety of skin illnesses.
Work Breaks - Need of the Hour to Counteract Prolonged Sitting
Prolonged sitting among office goers, pose risk of cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, hypertension, and certain types of cancers.
Fear of Garlic Bad Breath? Try Deodorizing Effect of Yogurt
Yogurt's protein and fat content demonstrated its unidentified deodorizing properties against garlic's pungent odor.
Smoking Tobacco and Cannabis Tied to Depression Risk
People who smoke tobacco and cannabis have an increased risk of depression and anxiety than those who use either substance alone or not at all.
View All
This site uses cookies to deliver our services.By using our site, you acknowledge that you have read and understand our Cookie Policy, Privacy Policy, and our Terms of Use  Ok, Got it. Close
MediBotMediBot
Greetings! How can I assist you?MediBot
×

Many Parents Multi-task While Driving Kids: Survey Personalised Printable Document (PDF)

Please complete this form and we'll send you a personalised information that is requested

You may use this for your own reference or forward it to your friends.

Please use the information prudently. If you are not a medical doctor please remember to consult your healthcare provider as this information is not a substitute for professional advice.

Name *

Email Address *

Country *

Areas of Interests