Car Accident Deaths Increase Starting At Age 12

A recent research collaboration between The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) and State Farm Insurance Companies found that child passengers age 12 to 16 are more likely to die in a car crash than younger children.  This risk increases with each teenage year.  The study was just released by the Archives of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine.

The study examined nearly 10,000 passenger deaths involving 8- to 17-year-old passengers, and found some unfortunate results:

• More than half of the deceased youths were riding with a driver under age 20

• Nearly two-thirds were not wearing any kind of restraint or safety belt

• More than three-quarters of the crashes occurred on roads with posted speed limits above 45-miles-per-hour

• One-fifth of fatal crashes involved alcohol

Researchers have found that as children age, they are more likely to ride in vehicles with drivers other than their parents.  These other drivers include classmates, friends, or older siblings – and these often younger drivers don’t practice the same safe driving as their parents.

The researchers made the following recommendations:

1.      Insist on seat belts. All occupants should buckle up on every trip,every time.

2.      Set a good example. Don't drink and drive. Avoid distractions like cell phones. Obey the speed limit.

3.      Set rules about safe passenger behaviors. 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.

These are great recommendations, and we urge all parents to insist that their children and teens follow them.  Do you have any other safety tips for parents with children or teens?  Leave us a comment and let us know.