Drive By Example; Our Kids Are Watching
July 10, 2009 by Karlynn Johnston
Filed under Featured
Guilty as charged. I definitely drive while tired, however, I expect that if I asked all you super parents out there if you drove while tired, I would view a sea of waving hands in the air, a couple of resounding “hell ya’s”, and a few “did you seriously have to even ask that?” comments.
I rarely carry my cellphone, so not guilty there, and I hate speeding tickets so I don’t speed, but I usually am in a hurry. Which would seem the same, but they arent. Being in a hurry means I am usually impatient, not really enjoying the drive or the destination and probably so tense my kids can tell. This is almost always when someone has refused to leave the house, someone has thrown a temper tantrum or two, lunch was thrown on the floor, and we are late for school.
I have also taught my children a few choice swear words, the main occurrence when a bicycle fell off the back of an SUV I was following (not to closely thank god) and it bounced on the highway in front of me. I slammed on the breaks and screeched a swear word while praying I wouldn’t hit it at the same time. Yip, prayin’ and a swearin’ doth a good mother make.
From The Globe & Mail:
The other day I had to come to an emergency stop in the middle of a busy urban road because a young parent was running across with a toddler rushing to keep up.
There were well-marked crosswalks 50 metres or so in either direction. Obviously that child will grow up thinking it is okay to cross busy roads wherever it is convenient and if that parent had bothered to teach any safety lessons they were quickly forgotten.
“Do as I say, not as I do,” might be a good mantra for many parents, including those with young drivers in the family, or children who will soon be driving.
Several major surveys have shown that parents may be unwittingly contributing to the risky behaviour exhibited by new drivers. State Farm, the largest auto insurer in the United States, says a national survey shows that in many instances, the majority of parents are not following the safe driving advice they give to their teens, “possibly setting dangerous examples for young inexperienced drivers.”
That survey found:
- 65 per cent of parents talk on cellphones while driving, but 94 per cent restrict their children from doing so;
- 68 per cent of parents admit they are in a hurry at times when they drive;
- 65 per cent admit to driving when tired.
This survey was a follow-up to one conducted in 2007 by the company in co-operation with The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, which examined driving through the eyes of teens. The earlier survey found:
- 89 per cent of teens see their peers talking on cellphones while driving;
- 91 per cent see their peers driving while in a hurry;
- 75 per cent see their peers drive when tired.
Perhaps just as important, the latest survey found that more than half of the parents would have liked more information on helping their teens avoid distractions. One-third would like more advice on road rage as well as freeway and night-time driving and 25 per cent wish for more information on helping their son or daughter avoid drinking and driving.
There is plenty of other proof that parents need to not only set a better example, but become more involved in those early months and miles.
Another study, this one by Liberty Mutual Insurance Company and SADD (Students Against Dumb Decisions) showed the same issues with respect to the actions of both parents and peers. This one showed the chief problem with peers involved not wearing seatbelts and excessive speed.
The study also showed that new young drivers believe their parents have the biggest influence on how they drive. It found:
- Two-thirds of the young people said their parents talk on the phone while driving;
- Almost half said mom or dad speed;
- One-third said their parents don’t wear seat belts.
Studies and statistics in Canada and in the United States indicate that excessive speed is indicated in approximately one-third of all fatal crashes involving young drivers.
In almost two-thirds of those incidents, the young people were not wearing their belts. This runs counter to data, which shows that Canadians on the whole are belt-users. We have one of the highest use-rates of any nation on earth.
Those who don’t bother to fasten their belts are obviously more inclined to take chances – in many cases because of their parents.
In any case, it is all too easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of life and forget that what we say and do is being monitored by young people who look up to us not only literally, but figuratively.
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