If you’ve ever tried driving down I-94 with a toddler screaming in the backseat or a sibling showdown erupting over a dropped toy, you know the struggle is real. Minnesota parents have a lot to juggle—snowy roads, unpredictable traffic, and little voices demanding snacks, attention, or bathroom breaks at the worst possible time. At TSR Injury Law, we’ve seen firsthand how child-related distractions can turn into serious crashes. That’s why we’re sharing what every parent needs to know before buckling kids into the car.

Driving with children in the car creates unique challenges that may significantly increase the risk of a crash. Young children, especially, require focused attention, monitoring, and often create unexpected distractions. Parents trying to juggle driving responsibilities while managing children in the backseat could actually be putting them at a greater risk of harm.

At TSR Injury Law, our Minneapolis car crash lawyers have helped countless crash victims injured in complex cases, including those involving distracted drivers. During our 25 plus years of seeking justice for injured victims in Minnesota, we have secured over one billion in compensation for our clients. Our highly qualified legal team provides compassionate legal guidance while helping injured victims navigate insurance claims and pursue fair compensation for injuries.

Request a FREE case review today. Call: (612) TSR-TIME

Parents Owe a Duty of Care to Prevent Harm – Even When Children Are Unpredictable

Children, especially infants, toddlers and younger children, are unpredictable. They have a lot of demands and can quickly switch from being happy to meltdown mode. The younger they are, the more difficult it is for them to tell you what is wrong or what they need. When these situations arise at home, it is easier to manage them. In a car, however, these same challenges create dangerous distractions for parents who are driving. Concerned or frustrated parents may have a hard time not looking in the backseat or turning around to try to deal with the situation, but this can quickly lead to a dangerous crash.

It is vital for parents to understand, however, that even in this situation, they owe a duty of care to everyone on the road. A driver’s duty of care means taking reasonable measures to prevent harm to others, including anyone riding in their vehicle or sharing the road.

To help manage child distractions on the road, you can prepare ahead of time and make a plan for dealing with challenges before getting into the driver’s seat.

Common Ways Children Divert Driver Attention

When driving with children, parents may face several predictable situations that, without being prepared ahead of time, can pull their attention away from the road.

These special distractions are just a few of the common challenges parents may encounter when their children are in the car with them.

Crying, Arguing, or Fighting With Each Other

The sound of children crying or siblings engaged in arguments can create significant mental distractions for drivers trying to safely navigate traffic. Parents often feel compelled to intervene, and in doing so may take their hands off the wheel. When things escalate, they may even take their eyes off the road to address conflicts in the backseat. However, doing so significantly increases the risk of drifting into another lane, or into oncoming traffic and causing a crash.

Bored or Wanting to Get Out of the Car

Children who become restless during longer drives frequently express their discomfort through increasingly disruptive behaviors. Their repeated requests to stop or exit the vehicle can pressure parents into making abrupt driving decisions, particularly during highway travel or congested rush hour traffic.

Hungry, Thirsty, or Needing a Restroom Break

As adults, we struggle with fatigue on long trips, and may need to stretch our legs, get something to eat or take a restroom break. These physical needs are more urgent to children, and it is harder for them to let you know they may need a bathroom break soon. Often by the time you know about it, your child is already in a critical state of discomfort. Wanting a snack or something to drink are also very common disruptions you can be sure will arise on most road trips. Parents facing these increasingly urgent requests often divide their attention between scanning for appropriate stopping locations and managing their driving environment. This divided focus can also compromise their ability to focus on the road and respond to sudden traffic changes.

Dangerous Ways Parents May Respond to Child Distractions

Parents may be tempted to react or make rash decisions when addressing child distractions, but this is a bad idea. While completely human, these reactive responses can turn even minor distractions into serious safety hazards.

• Trying to Multi-task: Parents who attempt to handle multiple tasks simultaneously, such as passing snacks while navigating traffic.
• Looking Back to Handle Backseat Passengers: Taking eyes off the road for even two seconds to check on children increases crash risk on busy roadways.
• Not Handing Off Duties to Another Adult or Pulling Over: Parents who cannot pass their responsibilities to passengers or safely pull over during distractions face preventable crash scenarios.
• One-Handed Driving: Reaching back to retrieve dropped items or hand food to children compromises vehicle control, especially during emergency maneuvers.
• Delayed Braking Responses: Mental focus on child concerns rather than paying attention to traffic conditions limits reaction time to sudden stops or traffic changes ahead.
• Lane Drift: Attention diverted to child needs often results in unintentional lane deviations on highways.
• Increased Speed: Parents may accelerate unconsciously when stressed by persistent child distractions.
• Emotional Driving: Frustration with disruptive children leads to aggressive driving behaviors, including tailgating or abrupt lane changes.
• GPS/Navigation Errors: Divided attention causes missed turns or exits, prompting unsafe last-minute corrections.

How Parents Can Prepare to Drive More Safely With Children

Parents who prepare for driving with their children dramatically reduce the number of disruptions. Limiting distraction risks and having a solid plan for dealing with challenges when they arise, creates a safer environment for everyone. Strategic planning also allows parents to meet their children’s needs during travel while continuing to uphold their duty of care as a driver.

Here are some key helpful tips for parents driving with children – even for short trips:

Plan Entertainment and Activities Before Departure

Prepare activities such as audiobooks, travel games, and tablet devices with preloaded content to help keep older children engaged during commutes. Parents who prepare these entertainment options before starting the car avoid dangerous mid-drive searches for distractions while navigating busy highways. For infants and younger children, feed them shortly before you go.

Pack Snacks and Drinks in Easy-to-Access Containers

Having another adult in the car hand out ready-to-eat snacks and spill-proof drinks within easy reach prevents hunger-related meltdowns. Parents could benefit from using car organizers that allow older children to access their own refreshments without requiring a driver’s assistance.

Schedule Regular Breaks for Longer Trips

Parents should plan frequent stops during their commute to give little legs a chance to stretch and address restlessness before it becomes disruptive behavior. Minnesota has multiple highway rest areas and family-friendly attractions. These serve as ideal restrooms and break areas where children can safely eat snacks and expend energy away from moving traffic.

Discuss Behavior Expectations Before Starting the Car

Parents can have clear conversations to tell children what to expect. Knowing ahead of time they are going on a road trip, what behavior is acceptable, sets important safety boundaries for children. Parents who reinforce these expectations consistently find children more cooperative during critical driving moments when full attention to traffic conditions matters most.

Properly Secure Children in Age-Appropriate Safety Seats

Placing children and infants in correctly installed car seats and booster seats minimizes physical discomfort. It also reduces the risk of a toddler or young children being able to wriggle out of their car seats while the vehicle is in motion. Be sure to set the child safety lock on car doors as well so older children cannot accidentally open the door.

Keep Emergency Supplies Within Easy Reach

Essential items such as tissues, wipes, and comfort objects should be placed where an older child or another adult in the car can access them with minimal driver involvement. This allows parents to handle minor emergencies without compromising attention on the road or vehicle control.

When driving with children in a vehicle, especially for long road trips, it is a good idea to have another adult ride with you. If that is not possible and an urgent situation arises, it is important to stay calm and focused on the road. Find the closest safe place to pull over where you can help your child or deal with an urgent situation without creating a crash risk.

Injured In a Car Crash? Contact Our Trusts Car Crash Attorneys at TSR Injury Law Today

At TSR Injury Law, our knowledgeable Minneapolis car crash attorneys understand families’ stress after distraction-related crashes. We help parents recover compensation for medical bills, lost wages, and other damages, and there are no upfront costs to pay.

Our trusted law firm provides compassionate guidance through every step of the legal process while you focus on your family’s recovery and well-being.

Call today for a free case review, or you can complete our simple online form to have a caring legal representative reach out to you within 24 hours.

Need Legal Help? Call Our Trusted Law Firm Today (612) TSR-TIME