Human error contributes to eight out of every 10 road accidents in the country, according to Wynand van Vuuren, client experience partner at King Price insurance.
Among the errors, distracted driving is a leading cause, posing significant risks to drivers, passengers and other road users.
Children are known to be 12 times more distracting to drivers than talking on a cellphone. During an average 16-minute car trip, parents are distracted by their children for more than 20% of the time, underscoring the challenges faced by mothers, in particular, who may also be juggling sleepless nights and the demands of parenting.
“In fact, 10% of new moms have had an accident while driving with their babies,” Van Vuuren said.
We all know using our phones while driving is not only illegal, but also incredibly distracting. A Virginia Tech Transportation Institute study showed texting while driving increases the likelihood of an accident by 23 times, while dialling a number makes drivers six times more prone to having an accident.
The reaction times of texting drivers are 35% slower than that of drunk drivers (12%), and reading a WhatsApp message can lead to disaster. It takes five seconds to read an average message, and if you’re driving at 90km/h, that’s the equivalent of driving the length of a rugby field with your eyes closed.
While it is illegal to use your phone when driving, and it is dangerous to take your eyes and concentration off the road for any reason, it’s sometimes hard to prove distracted driving is the cause of an accident. From an insurance point of view, distracted driving may not necessarily lead to a claim for accident damage being rejected.
Distracted driving leading cause of road accidents in South Africa
Tending to children and use of cellphones behind the wheel are blamed
Image: SUPPLIED
Human error contributes to eight out of every 10 road accidents in the country, according to Wynand van Vuuren, client experience partner at King Price insurance.
Among the errors, distracted driving is a leading cause, posing significant risks to drivers, passengers and other road users.
Children are known to be 12 times more distracting to drivers than talking on a cellphone. During an average 16-minute car trip, parents are distracted by their children for more than 20% of the time, underscoring the challenges faced by mothers, in particular, who may also be juggling sleepless nights and the demands of parenting.
“In fact, 10% of new moms have had an accident while driving with their babies,” Van Vuuren said.
We all know using our phones while driving is not only illegal, but also incredibly distracting. A Virginia Tech Transportation Institute study showed texting while driving increases the likelihood of an accident by 23 times, while dialling a number makes drivers six times more prone to having an accident.
The reaction times of texting drivers are 35% slower than that of drunk drivers (12%), and reading a WhatsApp message can lead to disaster. It takes five seconds to read an average message, and if you’re driving at 90km/h, that’s the equivalent of driving the length of a rugby field with your eyes closed.
While it is illegal to use your phone when driving, and it is dangerous to take your eyes and concentration off the road for any reason, it’s sometimes hard to prove distracted driving is the cause of an accident. From an insurance point of view, distracted driving may not necessarily lead to a claim for accident damage being rejected.
Image: MARK SMYTH
Unlike a text message, a child’s needs can’t always be ignored. Given every parent’s natural urge to care for their children, it is easy to understand how parents may focus their eyes and attention on the back seat instead of the road.
Tips for driving with small children in the car:
“South Africa’s roads are already dangerous, with potholes, traffic lights being out due to load-shedding and pedestrians crossing. If you add distractions to the mix, you’re simply creating an unbearable level of risk for you, your passengers and children, and other road users,” said Van Vuuren.
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