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	A shocking new study has revealed that a quarter of parents regularly leave their children in the car alone, sometimes for up to a half an hour.</p>
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	More than 25pc of parents admitted leaving children as young as four unattended in a parked vehicle for an average of 22 minutes despite the serious risks involved.</p>
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	Younger couples were found to take this risk more than older parents as 42pc of parents between the age of 18 and 34 confessed to doing this at least once.</p>
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	Choosing to leave children in a parked vehicle without supervision poses huge risk of endangerment particularly if they should they release the handbrake.</p>
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	Mothers were found to be more conscious of the risks involved than dads, leaving children in the car for an average of 17 minutes compared to a dad&rsquo;s 27 minute average.</p>
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	The research, carried out by UK company Kwik Fit Insurance, found that parents often return to the car to find the interior has been damaged and alarms have been set off. Children are also found to be bickering upon their parents return.</p>
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	Parenting expert Richard Curtis revealed that the study&rsquo;s findings are hugely concerning.</p>
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	&ldquo;There are a number of hazards that could pose a risk to children in an unattended vehicle, plus, as this report shows, siblings will often bicker or fight,&rdquo; he said.</p>
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	<a href="http://www.independent.ie/life/motoring/car-news/one-in-four-parents-leave-children-alone-in-the-car-despite-huge-risk-research-reveals-31485509.html">http://www.independent.ie/life/motoring/car-news/one-in-four-parents-leave-children-alone-in-the-car-despite-huge-risk-research-reveals-31485509.html</a></p>
