Safety Issues
Oct
6
Written by:
10/6/2011 12:09 PM
Take a Lesson from Grandma: Kids Safer When Grandparents Drive
A Journal of Pediatrics study found that kids appear to be safer when driving with a grandparent than with a parent. Children were half as likely to be injured in a crash when their grandparent drove, as compared to crashes where mom or dad was driving. The study analyzed State Farm Insurance Company data in fifteen states from 2003-2007. Researchers looked at crash injury rates of children fifteen years or younger, comparing who was driving (parent or grandparent), severity of the crash, and use of seat belts/car seats. The findings are especially interesting, given that grandparents are slightly less likely than parents to use child car restraints. A parent was driving in 90% of the crashes and a grandparent in 10%. Yet, grandparent drivers accounted for just 6.6% of total injuries. The injury rate was .7% for grandparents and 1.05% for parents.
Researchers concluded that grandparents drive more cautiously to protect “precious cargo” or offset the extra risks of being a senior driver. Grandparents tend to take extra precautions, such as staying in the right lane and obeying posted speed limits when grandkids are in the car.
Both grandparents and parents could do one more thing to improve auto safety: Use those child safety seats! The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends the following:
- Infants and children under two years ride in a rear-facing car seat.
- Children 2-4 years of age need forward-facing car seats.
- Use belt-positioning booster seats until children reach 4’9” and are between 8-12 years old.
- Use a full harness instead of a belt-positioning booster model for children under 40 pounds.
- Children under 13 years of age should NEVER ride in the front seat!
You don’t really have to drive like Grandpa...Just Slow Down. Be Careful.
And Use Those Car Seats when kids are in the car!