Home » Health & Wellness » Childhood Diseases » Driving Hazards to Kids

Driving Hazards to Kids

© Wiltonetta M. Jones-Samuel

There are several different ways children can injure themselves and cause severe damage within later on in life. One of those ways is driving. When I first started to learn how to drive, one of the first things my mom told me was to 'drive for the other person'. We all have had to swerve off the road to keep from being hit by the idiot behind or from being side-swapped off the road. The younger drivers are a little less skilled at this technique.

According to the Acadiana Safety Association, automobile accidents are the leading cause of death for adults and children aged 15-24.

The 1997 Traffic Records Data Report stated that youth drivers age 15-20 make up eight percent of licensed drivers. Fourteen percent are involved in fatal crashes and 16 percent are in injury crashes. The report also state that 51 percent of youth drivers are male and are involved in 70 percent of fatal crashes and are more likely to be in an alcohol related crash. (No wonder their insurance rates are so high!)

Speeding is one of the main contributing factors in accidents and is common among both male and female drivers. For example, one the largest parishes in Louisiana, St. Tammany and Orleans, have the highest crash rates for drivers age 15-24 while speeding.

Kathleen Wilkins, Director of the American Automobile Association of Louisiana, says that pedestrians are an added problem to traffic accidents. They should keep in mind that just because they can see the car, the person driving may or may not see them, Wilkins says.

To help save lives, the American Automobile Association and the National Safety Council offer tips to encourage all drivers to wear their seat belts, avoid drinking and driving and speeding, to turn on their headlights, use air bags safely, keep children restrained, and practice the two second following rule which prevents tailgating.

Extra precaution should be taken at night, Wilkins adds. Drive carefully around pedestrian walks and increase your following distance. Not everyone sees well at night.

While driving at night, never look directly into the headlights of the oncoming cars as it can cause temporary blindness, and when on slippery roads, following the tread marks of the tires of the preceding car is a great idea because there is less water there. If hydroplaning should occur, always turn the wheel into the skid, slow down and do not break.

Drivers must also be aware that looking away just for one second can result in a major accident.

The copyright of the article Driving Hazards to Kids in Childhood Diseases is owned by Wiltonetta M. Jones-Samuel. Permission to republish Driving Hazards to Kids in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.