As parents, the safety of our children is paramount.  But many of us unwittingly and all too frequently engage in road behaviour that puts their lives, and those of others, at risk.  With children starting the new school year, now is a good time to understand the facts and take steps to improve our driving habits.

A national report was released by SafeKidsUSA this month after observing drivers at 20 middle schools in 15 states.  The major finding was that one of every six drivers in school zones is distracted. Furthermore:

• Drivers on busy roads are 16 % more likely to be distracted than those driving on roads with less traffic.
• Female drivers are 21% more likely to be distracted in school zones than males.  While women as a group aren’t inherently worse drivers than men, most women we know would agree that multitasking is an integral part of their daily lives.
• Afternoon drivers are 22 % more likely to be distracted than morning drivers.  Perhaps somewhat counterintuitive, but it does help explain why one in three child pedestrian deaths occur between 3 and 7 p.m.
• Drivers not wearing seatbelts are 34 % more likely to be distracted than drivers who are buckled up.  Why?  The authors felt that drivers engaging in one risky behavior are more likely to engage in multiple unsafe driving behaviors.

Some of the distracting activities that might be going on include:  texting, using a cell phone or GPS, interacting with our kids or other passengers, adjusting one’s clothing or makeup, eating or drinking.  We could add a lot more examples, but you get the picture.

It is estimated that the risk of an accident while using a cell phone is comparable to driving with a blood-alcohol content of 0.08.  The risk associated with texting is almost 4 times higher.  In school zones we need to be constantly on the lookout for children crossing the road, swerving cyclists, and stop and go traffic.  Distractions in the car affect our ability to react quickly and safely.

It would be unrealistic to mandate eliminating all distractions while at the wheel.  But we can do a lot to make school zones safer:

• Slow down in school zones and be alert for children, particularly during school travel times.
• Never use your cell phone while driving.  It goes without saying that texting while driving is a complete no-no.  Always pull over safely first.
• Do what you can to maintain a calm and controlled atmosphere in the car at all times.

Do you have some good tips for other parents?  How does your child’s school ensure pedestrian safety?  Let’s start a conversation and take steps together to reduce the distractions that affect our ability to be safe drivers.