Children the key to safer driving

They suffer from sleepless nights, constant interruptions and mounting stress levels - but parents are among the safest drivers on the road, according to new research from safe driver champion Privilege Insurance.

The findings reveal that parents driving with children in their car were half as likely to have an accident or breach road safety rules as the average driver.

The tendency to break the speed limit drops when a child is in the car.

Only half the parents surveyed (53 per cent) admitted to having exceeded the speed limit over the past five years with a child present, in comparison with three quarters (77 per cent) of all drivers.

But, more surprisingly, parents driving with a child are more likely to stay focused on the road than the average driver, despite the potential distractions of a young passenger. Almost half (45 per cent) of all drivers admitted to having lost concentration while driving, but this number fell to just three in 10 (29 per cent) when specifically looking at parents.

Similarly, the number of mums and dads who confessed to taking their eyes off the road was 18 per cent lower and the number who admitted drifting out of their lane 11 per cent lower than the average.

In all, three quarters of parents acknowledge their driving behaviour alters when their child is in the car with 58 per cent saying they drive more safely and a third (34 per cent) becoming more likely to adhere to road regulations and laws.

And it is mums that are twice as concerned as dads about being stopped by the police in front of their kids, and more concerned about their children witnessing an accident. But nearly all parents (92 per cent) agree they drive more carefully to keep their little ones safe. Two thirds (63 per

cent) do so because they value the life of their child over that of their own, while over half (54 per cent) drive better to set a good example.

Being a safe driver also makes economic sense for parents, who face the ever increasing costs of child-raising. By driving safely, they will have fewer accidents and therefore pay less in car insurance each year as their no claims bonus builds up.

The research also reveals that parents drive an average of 295 miles a month with their children in the car, which is the equivalent of driving round the

M25 two and a half times a month, or going from Lands End to John O'Groats every three months.

Ian Parker, Managing Director of Privilege Insurance, commented: "Although children may at times be distracting, they certainly appear to have a positive influence on their parents' general driving behaviour - drivers speed less, stick to their lane, have fewer collisions and accidents, and are generally much more in control of their vehicle with a child in the car.

"It's great that parents are keen to set a good example. Today's child is tomorrow's driver, so being exposed to good driving now will help create safer roads in the future. And of course, those parents who promote safer driving now should get a better night's sleep when their child first gets behind the wheel."

Privilege specialises in offering highly competitive insurance for safe drivers, with a guarantee to beat renewal quotes for any driver with 4 years.