One thing mums are tight on is time, so the car can often turn into an extension of our homes as we comb hair and administer toast soldiers from the front seat.
 
However, tending to the kids in the car takes our attention off the road – and is in fact twelve times more distracting than being on our mobiles.
 
Based on international evidence it’s estimated that driver distraction can cause 20-30% of all road collisions in Ireland – that's over 1,400 often devastating accidents each year. So with that in mind, here are five ways you can keep your little ones safe:
 
1. Do a quick safety scan
 
Before you set off, do a scan of the back seat to ensure there are no small toys or objects your child could choke on during the journey. If your child is coughing or choking, it’s natural for a parent to panic, and when that happens your ability to drive safely is compromised.
 
 
2. Get in the habit of a pre-journey routine
 
Prior to leaving the house, make sure your little one isn’t hungry or thirsty and has been to the toilet. This will nip in the bud any pleas from the back for a toilet break or a snack, allowing you to keep your attention on the road.
 
3. Keep them occupied
 
Bored kids want mum’s attention, but if you’re trying to entertain or soothe your children, your focus will naturally shift from driving safely. Plan ahead with a storybook CD or a selection of books they can read during the trip.
 
 
4. Pick your time wisely
 
Planning a long journey around naptime or bedtime is a clever hack to ensure the kids sleep through some, if not all of the journey.
 
5. Stop the car if kids are squabbling
 
Rather than try to mediate between the kids during a backseat argument, pull over in the next safe spot and refuse to take off again until they decide to stop arguing. If they’re old enough to understand, explain the danger of distracting the driver and the responsibility we have to pedestrians and other road users to drive safely.
 
The RSA has launched a new campaign to educate parents on the risks children pose as a distraction in the car. The Irish safe driving organisation wants parents to understand that the things going on outside the vehicle need their attention much more than the things inside it. Visit www.rsa.ie for more information.

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