The subject of distracted driving has heavily focused on the dangers of texting while driving, particularly among teenagers. Now a new study shows that parents driving their kids are also guilty of being distracted at the wheel—but mostly by talking on a cell phone or tending to child-care needs—and that distracted-driver parents are more likely to have been in a car accident than parents who drive without distractions. 

In the University of Michigan study, more than 600 parents revealed they often multitask while driving their 1- to 12-year-old children. Almost 90 percent of the parents surveyed reported engaging in at least one-technology based distraction while driving their child in the past month, with distractions from phone calls (hand-held and hands-free) being the most common and texts being the least common. And these drivers were more likely to have been in a crash in their lifetime. The study also found that drivers of children not riding in an age-appropriate car seat or booster seat were 2.5 times more likely to report a child-related distraction than drivers of children who were restrained in accordance with the law. Other kinds of distracting behaviors surveyed were surfing the Internet, self-care (grooming and eating), child care (picking up a toy, etc.), getting directions and changing a CD or DVD.

Multitasking may be helpful in other areas of working parents' lives (though the jury is still out on this), but one place not to do it is in the car while driving. For tips on how to drive distraction free, check out dmv.org.