Moms admit to texting, driving with kids
A new survey reveals that new mothers make risky choices on the road – even with their babies in the backseat.
Every mother has the occasional “bad mommy” moment, but talking or texting while driving is a major no-no. Accidents happen and all it takes is a split second of having your eyes off the road to compromise your precious cargo’s safety.
A poll of more than 2,000 moms conducted by American Baby and child-protection advocacy group Safe Kids Worldwide found that 78 percent of moms with kids under age two talk on the phone while driving; 26 percent text or check their e-mail. The majority of new moms surveyed (63 percent) say they're more cautious behind the wheel since giving birth, but that's not reflected in their behavior.
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"Everyone wants to think they're a good driver, especially when they're a mom," Laura Kalehoff, executive editor of American Baby told USA TODAY. "You pick out the safest car seat, the safest crib, and you want to feel like you're making the right choices. They thought they were being better drivers, while their behavior showed otherwise."
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"It's become part of our culture to not just drive, but to drive and do twenty other things," Kate Carr, president and CEO of Safe Kids Worldwide was quoted in Parents. "The problem is multi-tasking in the car can lead to tragedies. As a mother of three, I know there is nothing a mom wouldn't do to protect her child. This survey shows moms the little things they can change in their behavior to make a big difference in the safety of their children."
Bing: Dangerous driving mistakes moms make
Highlights from the American Baby and Safe Kids Worldwide survey:
26 percent text or check email, which is twice as risky as drunk driving.
Moms log an average of 5 hours and 20 minutes of consecutive sleep nightly, slowing their reaction time.
Two-thirds of moms find it tough to concentrate on a single task, like driving.
Nearly 10 percent of new moms have been in a crash while driving with their baby.
Read the complete survey titled, "Is Your Baby Safe on the Road?" here.
Do you ever talk or text with your baby in the car?
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Photo: William Howard/Getty Images
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