Taking the wheel of a vehicle can be a more or less stressful thing for people, but when those people are parents, the anxiety can reach a whole new level. In fact, for 20% of motorists, driving with children in tow increases the anxiety level in regards to safety. And a top concern is the myriad ways that drivers can be distracted while out on the road.
This is according to a new study by Hyundai Canada, carried out in collaboration with the Ipsos firm. The automaker surveyed parents across the country – and even spoke with well-known TV personality Scott McGillivray! - to uncover the biggest worries when it comes to safety when driving.
“As a Dad to two young girls, I can relate to the every-day stresses of keeping your kids safe, that stress and worry is multiplied as soon as you get in to a car. I need a car that will keep my family safe…”
- Scott McGillivray, TV personality and father of two
.jpeg?scaledown=450)
Kids change everything
One of the striking finds of the survey is how much more motorists are worried about safety on the road once they become parents: 84% of respondents said their concerns increased. This is a strong enough worry, in fact, that the safety features included in a new vehicle now constitute a major decisional factor for car buyers.
Another big worry has to do with driver distraction in other vehicles on the road, with 80% of surveyed Canadians saying this is a concern. Other common worries cited include highway driving (41%), driving on roads with cycling lanes (37%) and parking within school zones (35%).
When children are on board, the most common worry for parents is simply the risk of a collision or accident (54%). This was followed in the survey results by distraction and bad driving habits of other motorists.
At the same time, only 12% of respondents felt their own distraction was a cause for worry, this despite half of them reporting using their smartphone while driving. That half grows to 61% when respondents are asked if they use their phone while stopped at a red light.
Which is to say that while parents are suitably concerned about safety on the road, they might want to be taking a closer look at their own behaviour if they want to help improve safety.