Kids arguing with each other in the backseat has been named the ‘biggest distraction’ for UK drivers, according to new research from Skoda.
With the school summer holidays in full swing, millions of Brits will be embarking on long family road trips.
But squabbles between siblings - or young people rowing with each other in general - is the worst distraction risk for parents, according to the Skoda poll.
Almost 70% of UK motorists surveyed claim to have been distracted by their children when travelling.
A quarter also admitted they ‘nearly had an accident’ when driving due to being ‘preoccupied by their children in the car’.
And it’s not just kiddie arguments that might see motorists taking their eyes off the road - because children ‘crying’, ‘screaming’ and being loud made up the top three most dangerous distractions.
Worryingly, of the 53% of motorists who said they’d taken their eyes off the road to deal with a distraction, a whopping 79% had done so for ‘up to 10 seconds’, while 11% did so for 11-20 seconds.
A further 4% admitted to not concentrating on the road for ‘up to half a minute’.
As Skoda rightly points out, the risk of being distracted behind the wheel can be catastrophic.
According to collision data from the Department for Transport, in 2021 there were a total of 2,336 collisions with a contributing factor of ‘distraction in vehicle’, an average of more than six per day.
A Skoda spokesperson says: “As all parents know, keeping young passengers entertained and comfortable can be a challenge. Skoda understands this and has always sought to design interiors that deliver plenty of space, light and comfort. To prevent arguments becoming heated, Octavia, Superb, Kodiaq and Enyaq models are all available with 3-Zone air conditioning that allows the driver to set a different temperature zone for rear seat passengers. Skoda also offers a range of accessories that can keep occupants engaged and entertained. These include a tablet holder that clips onto the front seat back.”
Modern lease cars - including Skoda - also come with a suite of driver assistance and safety features designed to help out if you’re not 100% focused.
Those features include collision alerts, lane assist and adaptive cruise control.
And you can lease the Skoda Scala hatchback (below) - which comes as standard with a radar-based ‘front assist’ collision warning and mitigation system - from just £197 per month*.
*Prices include VAT. Credit is Subject to Status, Ts and Cs and Arrangement Fees apply. Excess mileage may apply. Stock levels and prices correct as of 27/07/23.
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