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Tips to Prevent Accidents While Driving With Children

There has been a major focus on distracted driving over the past few months. Most of these efforts however, are concentrated on distractions from electronic devices like cell phones and text messaging devices. However, as any parent knows, driving with children can present far greater distractions. Yet little attention is paid to the problems that face parents as they try to keep their car in lane while they are driving, simultaneously tending to their kids.

Driving with children may not seem like it is more prone to distractions than driving on your own. That’s because as parents, you are very likely to have gotten used to the kind of distractions children can present in the car. Most parents think nothing of turning around to the backseat to break up a small fight, to comfort a crying child or to attend to a tantrum. As California auto accident lawyers see, taking your eyes off the road even for a couple of seconds can cause an accident. However, most parents think little of such behavior.

Every year, approximately 30 percent of all accidents involve distracted driving. Not all of these crashes will occur because of motorists having a conversation on their cell phone and texting while driving, although these two activities get the lion’s share of attention.

Consumer Reports has a few tips for parents who are driving with children in the car.

Prepare for a Drive

Before you set off with children in the car, make sure that you prepare for the ride. Children are not likely to sit still for the entire journey even if it is a just a 10- minute trip. Keep stashes of toys, board games and video games in the car to pull out when older children begin to get restless. Children of all ages will also need snacks and water. Make sure that your car is stocked with these. Place snacks and drinks in such a manner that they are accessible to your children without any help.

Make your Children Wait for your Responses

Learn the habit of tuning out your kids’ tantrums or whining when you are traveling on a busy highway. It takes some practice, but keep your attention and eyes on the road and your hands on the wheel. Most children tend to tire of a tantrum after a while when they find it is not getting any response from you.

Pay Attention to the Road

Keep your eyes on the road ahead of you at all times. Don’t turn around to check on your kids every time they call you, or if there is a minor tiff brewing. Remember, just a second’s inattention can be enough to cause an accident.

Pull over and deal with a child in the throes of a tantrum.

It can be hard to focus attention on the road ahead when there is a child screaming in your car. If it’s possible, pull the car over and deal with your child’s issues before you start driving again. However, make sure that you pull over safely. If possible, get out of the highway, and then pull over.

The Reeves Law Group is a law firm with offices throughout California dedicated exclusively to the representation of personal injury victims, including victims of auto accidents. Please visit our website at trlglaw.com. If you desire a free consultation on a personal injury matter, please call us at (800) 644-8000 or email us.

The Reeves Law Group is not acting as legal counsel for any party in the matters discussed in this posting.

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