Children 'pick up bad driving habits from parents'

Date: 17/12/2010

Young people develop driving behaviours from their parents and will therefore pick up any of their bad habits, it has been suggested.

Poppy Husband, Evidence Base Researcher from Devon County Council, said research shows parents who take risks on the road are likely to have children who do so too.

"By monitoring their own driving, parents can play a key role in reducing the number of crashes involving young people," she remarked.

Furthermore, Director of RoadSafe Adrian Walsh urged mothers and fathers to encourage their children to assess their driving skills.

This will help youngsters learn about safe road use and make parents aware of any bad habits they may have developed, the organisation claimed, the most common of which include driving too close to the vehicle in front and failing to use mirrors properly.

Youngsters in Essex and Hertfordshire were also given a lesson in road safety earlier this month in an initiative launched by the Rugby Football Union and the Essex County Fire and Rescue Service.

Posted by Sarah Bailey