If you were asked whether you consider yourself to be a distracted driver, how would you answer? I know my temptation is to answer emphatically "no," although if I gave an honest self-reflection on my driving times, I would have to admit defeat. I am a distracted driver.
My temptation here is to proudly announce that I'm not actually distracted, but simply multi-tasking. Most women could relate here. We can drive with our knee, eat a sandwich, reach back to locate and put the crying baby's pacifier back in his mouth, have arms that stretch for days in the back seat looking for an infamous book that our toddler insists upon having, answer our cell phones, be mindful of the speed limit, put on makeup, sing along to songs with our kids (after we have found the coveted song on the CD), and.....oh yeah, drive.
Distracted driving is thought to be attributed to 80% of all crashes in some form or another, cites Allstate Insurance in a recent Parents magazine. What's more concerning is that parents of young children are especially vulnerable to distractions. Between the lack of sleep most parents are running on, the incessant needs and demands from young children, and their inability to be patient overall, parents succumb to what's going on in the backseat more than paying attention to what's right in front of them.
So how do we minimize these distractions? Simply put: Driving must be the first and foremost priority, and everything else should take a backseat to that. Some practical tips would be to make sure everyone (including yourself) has had a meal or snack before getting in the car. Everyone should be dressed entirely and ready to go once they get into the car. Reaching back to put socks and shoes on your 3 year old should not be an option. Minimize cell phone usage (if at all), but if you must use a cell phone, consider a hands-free device. Keeping your cell phone turned off or put away (where you can't stretch your amazing arms to, such as the trunk) will also help you to resist the temptation to be texting while driving, a major distraction with steep consequences.