Drivers distracted by passengers shouting
Almost three quarters of drivers find passengers shouting as the most annoying behaviour while they’re at wheel, according to a recent sa move poll.
Of the 5000 people surveyed, more than 4000 said it was an annoying passenger habit that distracted them when driving.
The second-most common pet peeve was passengers playing with the radio, while making a mess in the car ranked third.
Children distracting drivers
While children weren’t explicitly mentioned when people surveyed said shouting was the most annoying behaviour, it’s well known that little ones can be a major distraction for drivers.
In fact, a 2013 Monash University study found that, for a driver, children can be 12 times more distracting than talking on a mobile phone while driving.
Monash University Accident Research Centre researchers found the average driver takes their eyes off the road for a total of three minutes and 22 seconds during a 16-minute trip when there’s a child in the backseat.
The most frequent types of distractions included turning to look at the child in the rear seat or watching the rear-view mirror (76.4 per cent), engaging in conversation with the child (16 per cent), assisting the child (7 per cent) and playing with the child (1 per cent).
The study also found that a front-seat passenger didn’t significantly affect how drivers engaged in potentially distracting child occupant-related activities.
RAA Senior Manager of Safety and Infrastructure Charles Mountain says distraction is one of the fatal five along with the likes of fatigue, speeding and not wearing seatbelts.
“Driver inattention is one of the biggest factors in fatal crashes in South Australia,” Charles says.
“Distraction includes everything from texting or talking on the mobile, to personal grooming and dealing with squabbling children.”
To ensure you’re not distracted while driving with children in the back seat:
- Be prepared and make sure they have the items they need
- Ensure they’re restrained correctly
- Set ground rules before you start the car (but expect them to be forgotten)
- Pull over in a safe place if they’re upset or distracting you
- Distract them with books or car games
- Never let them play with the car keys.