more so than talking, or texing, or eating while driving...

armourall

I think I worry about this more than cell phone use while driving (after all it's illegal to text while driving in WA, and if they see you talking they will find something else to pull you over for and give you a ticket for both).

"The NHTSA estimates that 25 percent of all crashes involve some form of driver distraction, such as reaching for a dropped sippy cup, book or toy in the back seat. Any time you take a hand off the wheel and your eyes off the road, you're putting yourself -- and others -- at risk."

How many mothers have you seen do this... pretty much every mother I know!

Melaina25

My aunt undid her seatbelt for a second to reach a toy to hand to her son.

A driver hit their van and she got thrown out the window.  Luckily she landed on some mud on the side of the road and that cushioned the impact, but she still shattered her pelvis and ended up in the hospital for several weeks.

LittleMamaB

I can honestly say that this is something that I have never done. If they drop it, they drop it. That said, my boys aren't very demanding in the car yet.

mwalliser

As a mother you definitely have to just learn to listen to the crying coming from the back seat.  I would much rather listen to the screaming than have an accident all because I was trying to grab a toy to calm my child (which would likely be thrown straight back on the floor promptly after it was given back to the child).

Yes, we've all seen it done... but we should all know better as well.

Harms80

I was so paranoid for about the first six months with my DS in the car.  I didn't get drive thru food, talk, or anything.  I just pulled over if I needed to take my hands off the wheel.  Then, you sort of get back to how you used to be and I do it all the time.... except texting.  I'm in Wa, too, and I've known too many people get pulled over for texting. 

As far as toys or sippy cups, my son has learned to wait until we get to a red light (if it's not too far out of reach), parking lot, or in the driveway until he can have whatever's out of his reach.  I'd never forgive myself if something happened to him and nothing he thinks he needs is important enough to drive without hands or eyes- even for a second.

llc730

My mom was trying to help my baby brother with a drink in the car and ended up getting into an accident with all 3 of us kids in the car. Thankfully we were all okay, but even as a kid I could see how much it freaked out my parents. I think this was enough for me to learn my lesson about just letting things go when I have the little one in the car. However I admit to occasionally talking on the phone and frequently eating in the car pre-pg. Should have known better then too.