First for Women insurance issued a notice that during the Easter holidays in South Africa road accidents increase dramatically as thousands of people make their way across the country to various destinations.
In 2013, Transport Minister Ben Martins said that preliminary figures indicated that at least 241 people died in road accidents over the Easter holiday, and that a total of 201 fatal crashes were recorded. This is mostly due to drinking and driving, fatigue, speeding and also being distracted while driving, the insurance company reported.
The company’s executive head, Robyn Farrell warned, “If you are a parent, then you’ll know that driving with kids in the car can be a huge distraction and impair your concentration. Distracted drivers are unsafe drivers; the more time you spend solving fights, bargaining with your kids or looking in the rear-view mirror, the less time you’re devoting to monitoring traffic.”
International studies, like one done by the AAA, show that nearly 25 percent of crashes occur when drivers are dealing with children in the back seat. Many kids get bored on long road trips, sometimes fight with each other and need stimulation in order to keep them settled and happy. This is normal behaviour for children, but is problematic on the road.
“Being on the road during a peak traffic holiday period increases the chances of accidents happening. Add to that the stress of travelling with kids and it’s essential to take extra care,” said Farrell.
Tips to drive safely with children in the car:
- Set expectations. Lay out the rules in advance by telling your children ahead of time how you expect them to behave. Share the agenda with them and explain the family rules. For example, you might say you’ll be driving from 9am to 4pm and stopping for a picnic lunch around noon. Each person can choose music for an hour and that you’ll take away the toys of any child who misbehaves
- Keep focused on the road, not on what the children are doing in the car
- Be prepared to keep children entertained
- Play games
- Pack lots of healthy snacks and water
- Have regular stops for the toilet and for the children to be able to run around, stretch and let off some steam
- Avoid losing your temper
- Reward good behaviour.
