Is your teen safe behind the wheel?
A new study from the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and State Farm Insurance Companies has revealed that children between 8 and 12 years old are more likely to die in a car crash than younger children – and the risk increases with each teenage year. More than half of the children killed were riding in vehicles operated by drivers under 20, and nearly two thirds were unrestrained.
Previous research has shown that as children grow into adolescence they’re more likely to ride in cars with drivers other than their parents, such as classmates, friends or older siblings. The study results underline the horrifying consequences of inexperienced teen drivers transporting kids who don’t buckle-up. "Riding with drivers younger than 16 years old, not wearing seat belts, and riding on higher speed roads are the three biggest factors contributing to an older child being killed in a crash," says Flaura Koplin-Winston, M.D., Ph.D., founder and co-scientific director of the Center for Injury Research and Prevention at CHOP. "Knowing the risks can help parents and teens make smart decisions about which rides are safe and which ones are off limits."
"We should not accept teen crash deaths as random accidents," says Laurette Stiles, vice president of Strategic Resources of State Farm. "These deaths are preventable. Our hope is that teens, parents and policymakers will work together to develop a culture of safe, smart passengers by providing guidance, and reinforcing safe behaviors throughout the teen years."
CHOP researchers recommend these tips to help parents protect their children from an unsafe driving situation:
1 Insist on seat belts
All occupants should buckle up on every trip, every time. Keep in mind too that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) recommends that all children use a booster seat in the car from when they outgrow their toddler seat, at around 4, until they’re at least 8 years of age or 4' 9" inches tall. If your teenager is driving his younger siblings, make sure they’re safely restrained and make it clear to them that their older brother is in charge if he’s driving them in the car without you there.
2 Set a good example
Don't drink and drive, avoid distractions such as cell phones and obey the speed limit.
3 Set rules about safe passenger behavior
Discuss what's helpful or distracting to a driver.
4 Monitor your child's travel
Know where he or she is going, with whom, how they are getting there, and when they will be home.
5 Know and trust the driver
It's not safe for your child to ride with a teen who has less than one year of driving experience.
In addition, Dr Winston says that changes in policy, coupled with enforcement, can help to protect teen drivers and their passengers. Optimal graduated driver licensing (GDL) laws that emphasize a lengthened learner's phase beginning at 16, as well as nighttime driving and passenger restrictions during the intermediate phase, can help reduce the risk for teens. Primary seat belt laws for all occupants to at least age 18 are also recommended.
Is your teen ready to drive alone?
Even if your teen is legally old enough to get a license he may not be ready to drive alone.
Ask yourself these questions before you hand over the car keys…
- Has my teen had enough practice, in varying conditions, so that I’m confident of his ability to handle most situations?
- Has he demonstrated the ability to scan for and detect hazards, and react to them quickly?
- Does he always wear a seat belt and remind others to do so?
- Does he avoid using a cellphone to talk or text with while driving?
- Does he pull over to handle distractions or situations that divert his attention from the road?
- Does he speed or drive aggressively? Will he know to pull over if he’s upset, frustrated, or angry?
- Has he shown enough responsibility in other areas of his life to demonstrate that I can trust him to drive my car responsibly?
When your teen is ready to drive alone, make sure you set and review
house rules, especially during the first six months after he gets his license. Place limits on situations that increase crash risk, such as:
- Carrying multiple passengers (for at least the first year after your teen gets his license you should ban him from carrying passengers under 25 unless you’re in the car too).
- Driving in poor weather.
- Driving on certain roads
- Driving in the dark.