Car-azy! Parents phone and drive on school run
RISK TO KIDS’ LIVES
SHOCKING numbers of parents are using their mobiles while driving their kids to school.
One in eight Brits have seen the illegal and dangerous action on UK roads, research reveals. It comes despite a spate of fatal crashes caused by mobiles and the Government doubling the penalty for using a mobile while driving. Rob Baillie, spokesman for online firm sellmymobile, which commissioned the report, said: “Whether or not you’re a parent, using your mobile while driving is dangerous for people inside and outside the car.” A spokesman for road safety charity Brake said:
“It beggars belief that a parent would put their child at such risk.
“Using a phone at the wheel should be as unacceptable as drink-driving.” The 2,000-strong poll also revealed parents’ other worst mobile phone traits.
It said that 46% of them admit they spend too much time on their phones when with their children.
And 73% agreed their kids would benefit from more one-on-one time.
Other annoying habits included playing on phones while in a restaurant while with their kids (30%) and using mobiles as a digital babysitter (29%).
Children playing with devices with the sounds on loud in public also featured highly (20%).
Nearly 70% of respondents felt this sets kids a bad example.