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Home › Articles › Safety › Backseat Distractions

Backseat Distractions

Parents Don't Really Have Eyes on the Backs of Their Heads

By Carma Haley Shoemaker

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Twenty-five percent of the 6.3 million automobile crashes that occur in the United States each year are caused by driver distraction or inattentiveness, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Inattentiveness is the fourth leading cause of fatal crashes. In addition, car crashes are the leading cause of death for children, NHTSA reports.

Diagram for Disaster
Distractions are everywhere. Noise, lights, people – and even your own thoughts and stress – can be a distraction. Add to these a demanding child – sparking you to talk, discipline or focus on them in the backseat – and you have the potential for disaster. "Parental instinct is an amazing thing," says Barbara Spangler, owner of Reflections Safety Mirrors in Newark, Ohio. "It causes us to love and protect our young at all costs, but it can also cause us to throw caution to the wind while driving on the interstate at 65 miles per hour. Children become demanding in the car because they are trying to communicate and all they can see is the back of their parent's head. In response, parents want to and will attempt to accommodate whatever need the child has – or thinks he/she has. Though this instinctive response is natural, it can be a disaster waiting to happen even during a routine trip to the grocery."

Mirror Image
One of the easiest ways to avoid backseat distraction would be removal of the children. But when that's not possible, keeping your eyes on them – safely – finishes a close second. "There are several different types of mirrors available enabling drivers to view the backseat without turning their eyes from the road," says Spangler. "When purchasing a mirror, look for quality. Choose one that attaches securely near the rearview mirror – where your eyes are accustomed to going – with a lens curvature allowing a clear view. [With safety mirrors], not only can you see the children but the children can see you. Children behave better when they know they can be seen."


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