DRIVING WITH THE KIDS

***FOUR SAFETY TIPS FOR DRIVING WITH KIDS***

Kids need a lot of attention, and driving with one in the backseat can actually be really dangerous. According to a recent survey by www.MotherProof.com, the cities with the safest mom drivers are Dallas, New York, Philadelphia, Houston, and Los Angeles.

Here are four ways to make sure you're being safe when the baby's on board . . .

#1.) DISTRACT THE KIDS. 32 PERCENT of moms admitted that kids horsing around in the backseat has caused them to drift between lanes, miss a turn, or get in an accident. So make sure your kids have something to do. Bring books for them to read, play music, or buy some hand-held video games for them to play. For longer road trips, you might want to invest in a DVD player for the backseat.

#2.) TURN OFF YOUR PHONE. 54 PERCENT of moms text or make calls while driving. And cell phones are involved in almost one out of every four accidents. So turn off your phone while you're in the car. And if you DO have to make a call, pull over.

#3.) EAT BEFORE YOU LEAVE THE HOUSE. 54 PERCENT of moms also admit to eating on the road. But eating while driving is a common reason for accidents. If you can't eat before you leave the house, then stop at a restaurant and eat there. You might lose some time, but you'll be more likely to arrive at your destination safely.

#4.) PREPARE FOR EMERGENCIES. 41 PERCENT of moms say they don't know how to change a tire. It's probably a lot higher than that. Most MEN can't do it either. But when a kid's in the car, you should be ready for anything, even if it includes lug nuts. (AskMen.com)