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U-M study: Most parents are distracted drivers

textinganddrivingsafely.com

A new University of Michigan survey finds many parents are distracted behind the wheel.

The U-M researchers surveyed more than 600 parents to find out what distractions they face while driving with their children.

Researchers were particularly interested in technological distractions: talking on the phone, texting, surfing the internet, changing CD’s and DVD’s, and getting directions from a navigation device. In the study, almost 90 percent of parents reported using at least one technology-based distraction while driving their children in the past month. Most drivers admitted to engaging in up to four distractions.

It probably does not come as a surprise that drivers who reported distracting behaviors were more likely to report having ever been in a crash.

One of the researchers says reducing distracted driving among parents would improve safety for children under 12.

Steve Carmody has been a reporter for Michigan Public since 2005. Steve previously worked at public radio and television stations in Florida, Oklahoma and Kentucky, and also has extensive experience in commercial broadcasting.
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