Eyes on the Road - Most Parents Multitask While Driving

[Stuart G]

http://www.today.com/health/eyes-road-most-parents-multitask-while-driving-6C9790794

Parents hope their children won't text and drive, but a new study suggests many parents are guilty of multitasking behind the wheel.
The results show about 90 percent of parents surveyed reported technology-related multitasking while driving their children in the past month, such as talking on the phone, texting or changing a DVD or CD.

Other types of multitasking were also common: About 70 percent reported performing childcare duties while driving, such as feeding their child or picking up a dropped toy, and 70 percent reported engaging in self-care, such as grooming or eating.

What's more, multitasking was more common among parents who'd reported being in a car accident at some point in their lives compared with those who'd never been in a crash, the researchers said.

"Lots of attention has been given to distracted teen drivers. However, our results indicate parents are frequently distracted while driving," study researcher Dr. Michelle Macy, of the University of Michigan, said in a statement.
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Within the last 6 to 8 months, I have seen more drivers turn right from a left lane then in the last 10 years. That is, I am sitting in the right lane of a 4 lane main street (two in each direction) and the driver decides at the last minute, to make a right turn in front of me, or someone ahead of me. These are people who are not paying the least attention to what lane they are in. Probably texting..Now, luckily, others, and me, let these idiots thru. But sooner or later there will be an accident. Very very sad about drivers today.

[kestrel91316]

1. I would NEVER text or use a cell phone in a car unless it was stopped and in park.

WTH is wrong with people???

And if I am ever in a car and the driver gets on the phone or starts texting, I'll ask them to stop and let me out. Period.

Effing crazy people.

[GeorgeGist]

2. FWIW ...

Parents have been multi-tasking since children were invented.

[Stuart G]

3. That may be true, but

the texting and cell phones divert attention from driving.. worse than other behaviors... Especially when a person "knows" they can do it without problems.
Because most of the time they can. But not all the time..