Newark, NJ-- Motor vehicle
crashes are the leading cause of death for U.S. teens, reports
the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). In 2008, about
3,500 teens in the U.S. aged 15–19 were killed and more
than 350,000 were treated in emergency departments for injuries
suffered in motor-vehicle crashes. Fortunately, teen motor vehicle
crashes are preventable, and proven strategies can improve the
safety of young drivers on the road.
“It is tragic when any young person ends
up in the Emergency Department with serious or fatal injuries
due to a car accident,” says Michael Rosen, MD,
Pediatric Director of the Emergency Department at Newark Beth
Israel Medical Center and Children’s Hospital of New Jersey. “The
risk of motor vehicle crashes is higher among 16- to 19-year-olds
than among any other age group. They are four times more likely
than older drivers to crash. Teens are more likely to underestimate
dangerous situations and are more likely to speed and to tailgate.”
Two-thirds of teen occupants killed in crashes are not wearing
seat belts, according to the CDC, and speeding
is a factor in 40 percent of all teen driver fatalities. The
CDC reports that those at especially high risk for motor vehicle
crashes are:
- Males: The death rate for male teen
drivers is two times that of females.
- Teens driving with teen passengers:
The presence of teen passengers increases the crash risk. This
risk increases with the number of teen passengers.
- Newly licensed teens: Crash risk is
particularly high during the first year that teenagers are
eligible to drive.
The Emergency Department at Newark Beth Israel
Medical Center and the CDC offer the following tips for parents
of teen drivers:
- Set clear rules, boundaries and expectations.
- It is about safety, not control. Make sure they understand
rules are for their safety, not to control them. As they become
more responsible, introduce new privileges.
- Be responsive. Listen to their concerns.
- Recognize their need to become independent. Reward responsible
behavior.
- Let them know you can be counted on for help and support.
- Create a code word. Help teens get out of unsafe situations
by calling or texting you with a previously agreed-upon code
word that signals trouble. When you hear or see the word, pick
them up right away.
- Pay attention. Know where they are going and discuss how they
will get there and when they will be home.
- Lead by example. Follow the rules of the road. Wear a seat
belt. Don’t talk on a cell phone while driving. Don’t
speed. Don’t drink and drive.
About CHNJ
Children's Hospital of New Jersey, located at Newark Beth Israel
Medical Center and part of the Saint Barnabas Health Care System,
is the state's premier hospital caring for children, with specialized
services to treat ill and injured children from newborn to adolescent
years as well as preventive programs that promote wellness in the
community. For a referral to a pediatrician or pediatric specialist,
please call 1-888-724-7123. Follow us on Twitter: get real time
news from the Saint Barnabas Health Care System at www.twitter.com/barnabas_health .
Date: January 14, 2010
Contact: Beth Salamon
Public Relations
Phone: 973.322.4926
esalamon@barnabashealth.org
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