Distracted Drivers Endanger Kids' Safety

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Sept. 25, 2009) – One out of every six drivers in school zones is distracted, according to a new study by Safe Kids USA, Characteristics of Distracted Drivers in School Zones: A National Report (PDF).

With cell phones, e-mail and text-messaging adding to more traditional distractions such as eating and grooming, there are more ways than ever for drivers to become distracted – and therefore dangerous to children as they walk to and from school.

Handheld electronics such as cell phones, PDAs, and smart phones are the leading causes of distraction, used by about 10 percent of drivers, according to the study. And while laws on using handheld electronics while driving are still being hotly debated, this research shows that simply having a law on the books could help reduce distracted driving. The study found that states that have such laws are 13 percent less likely to have distracted drivers in school zones.

The Danger of Distracted Driving

Recent studies have measured the driving skills of distracted drivers, showing they perform as bad as or worse than drivers who are drunk. This is frightening for anyone on the road, but it’s a particularly dangerous situation when kids are added into the mix.

Common Traits: Distracted Driving and Seatbelt Use

Drivers who don’t wear a seatbelt are 34 percent more likely to be distracted than drivers who are buckled up. Drivers who engage in one risky behavior are statistically more likely to engage in other unsafe driving behaviors.

Time of day

Afternoon drivers are 22 percent more likely to be distracted than morning drivers. Throughout the year, one in three child pedestrian deaths occur between 3 and 7 p.m., making afternoons the most dangerous time for children to walk.

Gender

Female drivers are 21 percent more likely to be distracted than male drivers.  But that doesn’t mean male drivers are off the hook—their rate of distraction was still way too high.

Traffic volume

People driving on roads with a lot of traffic are 16 percent more likely to be distracted than those driving on roads with less traffic.

Top Tips from Safe Kids Walk This Way

"Safe Kids has been working for 11 years on the Walk This Way program where we educate children about walking safely," said Sherri Hannan, coordinator of Safe Kids Fayette County. "Nationally, we conduct programs in more than 600 schools and have reached more than a million kids all across the United States."

The Safe Kids Fayette County coalition will observe National Walk to School Day Oct. 7 at schools. Members will teach kids about safe pedestrian behavior and are working with schools and communities to improve walking environments.

Pedestrian injuries are the number two cause of accidental death among children ages 5 to 14 in the United States. Across the country each year, more than 630 children are killed and 35,000 treated in emergency rooms as a result of pedestrian injuries. According to U.S. injury statistics, African American children, male children, children living in high density areas and children residing in low-income households are most at-risk for these types of injuries. New research from Safe Kids Worldwide shows that fear of crime influences these at-risk children’s pedestrian behavior more than fear of injury or injury-related death.

"It is important that parents and teachers are aware of influencing factors for children when they are walking and address those when teaching them about walking safety," said Dr. Martin R. Eichelberger, president and CEO of Safe Kids Worldwide. "Children and drivers alike must practice safe behaviors and be aware of their surroundings in order to prevent kids from being injured while walking. It is also important that communities work together to create safe environments for children to walk."

Through the year-round Safe Kids Walk This Way program, children learn important safety tips and behaviors for walking safely.

Be a Safe Kid

• Always cross the street with an adult until age 10
• Pause your music, hang up the cell phone and don’t text until you’ve safely crossed the street
• Never play hand-held games while walking
• Cross the street at corners, using traffic signals and crosswalks
• Look left, right and left again when crossing
• Always walk, never run, when crossing streets
• Walk on sidewalks or paths
• Walk facing traffic as far to the left as possible if there are no sidewalks
• Never run out into the street or cross in between parked cars

Be a Safe Driver

• Slow down and be especially alert in residential neighborhoods and school zones
• Eliminate any distractions inside your car so you can concentrate on the road and your surroundings
• Watch for children on and near the road in the morning and after school hours
• Enter and exit driveways and alleys slowly and carefully
• Remember that children may move in unpredictable ways
• Take extra time to look for kids at intersections, on medians and on curbs

Safe Kids Fayette County works to prevent accidental childhood injury, the leading killer of children 14 and under. Its members include health and safety experts, educators, community leaders, corporations, foundations, government representatives and volunteers to educate and protect families. Safe Kids Fayette County is a member of Safe Kids Worldwide, a global network of organizations dedicated to preventing accidental injury. Safe Kids Fayette County was founded in 1994 and is led by Kentucky Children's Hospital.