Mum and dads' school run driving kids mad

A shock study released today shows incredible amount of parents' driving behaviour children absorb from a young age and worrying in-car habits that this can create.
Study shows parents influence their childrenStudy shows parents influence their children
Study shows parents influence their children

A study released today has shown the incredible amount of parents' driving behaviour that children absorb from a young age and the worrying in-car habits that this can create.

A quarter of dads regularly show unsafe driving behaviour such as accelerating too quickly (26%) and speeding when driving (22%), compared with a considerably lower percentage of mums (11% and 10% respectively). Despite this, over half of children (52%) prefer being driven by dad than mum (39%).

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

ingenie, a young driver insurance brand, recently interviewed 10- year-old James and 13-year-old Tania to investigate the driving behaviour they have learned from their parents. When asked to do an impression of his dad driving, James talks on his mobile phone and then beeps the horn aggressively and shouts out the window, seemingly intimidating other drivers.

Tania says when her mum is driving: "She's putting her lipstick on, looking at her phone." Both sets of parents, who were watching the live interview from another room, expressed their shock at their kids' impression of their conduct and how much they were taking in on journeys. You can watch the full interview here https://www.ingenie.com/parent-manifesto

The research with children aged between 10 and 16 years old found that they frequently witnessed their parents committing similar transgressions but dad proved to be the biggest culprit. Almost half (43%) of dads get angry behind the wheel in comparison with just a fifth (18%) of mums. Children also revealed that their dad (57%) and mum (44%) shout at others whilst driving and dad is 13% more likely to swear in the car.

With this in mind, it's surprising to note that over a third (34%) of children would prefer their dad to teach them to drive rather than their mum (25%). The insights could expose children's acceptance of unsafe driving habits and the misunderstanding that these traits are normal upon passing a driving test.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Richard King, ingenie CEO, states, "The results reveal that we are teaching children bad driving habits long before they start lessons and subsequently pass their test. Parents need to understand the importance of setting a good example behind the wheel and be aware of the amount of information that children absorb. How we drive as parents ultimately influences how safely our children will drive in the future."

Dan, James' father featured in the ingenie video said, "It's definitely an eye opener. He's sitting in the back, I think that he's on his iPhone all the time, [but] he is still taking in other information."

The study marks the first of the five gears in ingenie's Parent Manifesto; a robust series of activities that aims to educate parents on how to get more involved when their child is learning to drive, in order to complement the learning process and promote safer driving among young people.

The manifesto will be made up of five stages released over the next four months – with each stage aiming to educate parents on another way they can help their child drive safely and save money.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

For more information about how to help a young driver get on the road safely visit https://www.ingenie.com/parent-manifesto Who do you prefer to be driven by?

Dad

52%

Mum

39%

Neither of my parents drive

5%

Other

2%

Why do you prefer Mum driving you?

They drive carefully

50%

They let me listen to any radio station

39%

They drive really fast

2%

They drive slowly

11%

It is exciting

11%

Why do you prefer Dad driving you?

They drive carefully

35%

They let me listen to any radio station

35%

They drive really fast

11%

They drive slowly

3%

It is exciting

26%

Does your Dad do the following while driving?

Eat

47%

Drink

47%

Swear

54%

Shout at other drivers

57%

Drive with one hand on the steering wheel

53%

Answer phone calls

32%

Does your Mum do the following while driving?

Eat

37%

Drink

39%

Swear

41%

Shout at other drivers

44%

Drive with one hand on the steering wheel

37%

Answer phone calls

20%

Do you parents always wear a seatbelt when they drive?

Dad

88%

Mum

83%

Do you always wear a seatbelt when your parents drive?

Dad

89%

Mum

83%

What Dad does when driving:

Accelerates too quickly

26%

Speeds when driving

22%

Brakes harshly

16%

Drives close to other drivers

15%

Makes his children get out before parking in a tight spot

12%

What Mum does when driving:

Accelerates too quickly

11%

Speeds when driving

10%

Brakes harshly

14%

Drives close to other drivers

11%

Makes his children get out before parking in a tight spot

21%

Which of the following statements do you agree with?

When I can drive, I'd prefer to drive with like my Dad

40%

When I can drive, I'd prefer to drive with like my Mum

38%

None of the above

19%

Who gets most angry with other drivers when driving?

Dad

43%

Mum

18%

They don't get angry with other drivers when driving

26%

Both equally

13%

Who would you want to teach you to drive of your parents

Dad

34%

Mum

25%

I don't want my parents to teach me

25%

Both equally

15%