Women drivers have long faced slurs
from men over their prowess behind the wheel. Now it seems
even their children are critics.
Research among youngsters has found 47 per cent feel unsafe being
driven by their mother, compared with 39 per cent who feel unsafe with
their father.
Despite parents insisting they drive more cautiously when transporting
their children, the survey found large numbers do not feel secure with
either parent.
Nearly 5 per cent confessed to being scared if they have to climb into
a car with their parents.
The survey of 500 children aged ten to 16 across Britain found 9 per
cent had been in an accident with their mother driving and 8 per cent with
their father.
However, the flaws in mothers' driving spotted by young backseat
drivers were different to those committed by fathers.
The study found the most common complaint was 24 per cent saying their
mother was bad at parking, followed by 21 per cent saying their father
drove too fast.
Women better at finding the car keys than their scatty spouses.
Fathers are more likely to drink and drive than mothers, with 8 per
cent of children commenting on their father getting behind the wheel after
consuming alcohol compared with 2 per cent saying the same about their
mother.
Six per cent complained their mothers drove too fast.
Jennifer Culley, from Privilege Insurance, which carried out the study,
said: "With almost one in 20 children actually scared by their parents'
driving, 'grown-ups' need to drive even more carefully and follow the
rules of the road.
"Driving safely will help to put children's minds at ease, as well as
demonstrate how they should drive in the future."
Robin Cummins, road safety consultant for the British School of
Motoring, said that children can subconsciously copy their parents' bad
driving habits when they become adults.
