Preteens and Vehicle Safety: Are They As Safe As Babies?

Preteens and Vehicle Safety: Are They As Safe As Babies? Safe Kids Worldwide September 2009

Data Show… • As kids get older from the age of 1 on they are less likely to ride properly restrained • This is especially problematic for preteens and teens

Safety Decisions • Parents decide what is safe for infants and toddlers • Booster-size kids begin to make safety decisions with adult guidance • Preteens make safety decisions independently when they ride with drivers you may not know

Consider This Even though you spend less time directly supervising your preteen, he or she still wants and needs your guidance

How Seat Belts Prevent Injury • Contact the body at strongest points • Hips • Shoulders • Prevent ejection • Provide “ride down” • Protect the brain and spinal cord • Spread crash forces over a wide area of the body.

Safe Preteens • Ride in a back seat until age 13 • Are more than 4’9” and 80-100 pounds for proper seat belt fit • Sit in an upright position • Make proper use of the seat belt: • Crosses shoulder (not face or neck- never behind back or under arm) • Rests on hips

Growing Independence • Increasing independence is a normal part of a preteen’s maturation • Caregivers and parents must prepare kids to independently make smart decisions (alcohol, sex, car safety, risky activities, etc) • Set goals preteens can meet to increase their independence and your trust

Preteens: A Safe Generation • Secured in car seats as infants and toddlers • Graduated to booster seats • Have significant knowledge about car safety but may not always use it • Back seat benefits • Airbags • Seat belts

Preteen: Time of Life Changes • Physical: maturing into puberty • Social: friends are self, not parent, selected • Education: school is different; they change classes, have more responsibilities, must organize tasks and time management • Emotional: mood swings; moving from childhood towards teen years

Anxious to Learn Cars hold wide appeal Already thinking about driving Many have already driven a car

Good Listeners • Pay close attention • Can serve as an extra pair of eyes to driver • Communicate with others • Practice telling others what they learn

Knowledge and Skills Together • A necessary formula for good decision making • Not always enough to offset negative peer pressure • Needs confidence to self motivate and speak up to peers to do the right thing • Needs practice to think and act independently when unsupervised

Parent/Caregiver Questions • How many different people drove your preteen this past week? • Did you know all the drivers? • Did you ask them about their safety practices relative to the back seat and seat belts for your child? • Have you talked to your preteen about expected safety behavior when you are not there to supervise?

Did your preteen wear a seat belt in every car, every time they were out of your sight this past week? How Confident Are You?

Does Your Preteen… • Beg to ride in the front seat? • Not use a seat belt for short rides? • Slip the seat belt off while you are driving? • Lay down while you are driving? • Avoid using the seat belt when friends are in the car? • Drive without your knowledge?

If Yes To These Questions: • Get ready to set and follow strict rules for car safety • Let preteen know rules apply in every vehicle • Let carpool drivers know your preteen’s safety requirements

Talk About Safety Often • Your car • Hazards when unsupervised in any car with motor running • Shift into gear- power windows- seat belt entanglement- trunk entrapment • Carpool car • A car with a drinking driver • A car where no one wears seat belts • A car where your preteen is frightened

Make This A Rule • Proper use of the seat belt is critical at this and every age • Shoulder belt on shoulder; lap belt across hips • No shoulder belt under the arm • No shoulder belt behind the back • No slouching or laying down on the seat • No playing with the shoulder belt- treat it like any cord or rope

Does Your Preteen Know What To Do If…. • A carpool driver you selected is driving dangerously? • A sibling or teen driver was substituted for the driver you thought was driving? • The driver smells like alcohol? • There are too many kids and not enough seat belts in the carpool car?

6 Ways To Get Your Preteen To Buckle Up • You buckle up first! Make it a rule in your car that everyone rides buckled • Remind your preteen to buckle up- they have a lot on their minds • Make it fun- offer praise for buckling without a reminder • Recognize when they remind others to buckle up • Remind them of your state law • Praise preteen for adopting safe behaviors in every vehicle

Make The Back Seat Inviting • Let preteens pick the radio station • Give them something to do- store games and puzzles where they have easy access • Let them have their own seat- same spot every time • Remind them about the law in your state and how they are helping you comply

Safe Kids And Preteens • Unintentional Injury Prevention • Children 0-14 • Data Driven Programs • Public Health Models • Grassroots programs • Advocacy, Education, Environment, etc. • www.usa.safekids.org

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Preteens and Vehicle Safety: Are They As Safe As Babies?