Most Parents Report Distracted Driving

In a new survey, nearly 90% of parents admitted to being distracted by technology in the last month while driving with their kids. The activities ranged from talking on the phone or texting to fiddling with the GPS or DVD player. And there were old-style distractions, too, such as eating or picking up a toy. The top distraction was phone calls. Nearly 75% of parents talked on the phone while driving. About 600 parents took part in the survey. They answered questions while their children were being treated for a variety of reasons in an emergency room. The children’s ages ranged from 1 through 12. About 70% said they did something related to child care while driving. Examples included feeding the child or picking up a toy. Nearly as many reported self-care, such as eating or grooming. About half were distracted by seeking directions on a GPS or map.