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A insurance study has determined that children are in fact safer in cars with one of their grandparents driving than with a parent driving. This is contrary to both popular belief and prior studies, and took researchers by surprise.
The focus of the study, published in the online journal Pediatrics, was solely on car injury, rather than the incidence of car crashes. The figures indicated that injury was 50 percent less likely to occur with a grandparent behind the wheel than with mother or father. The findings were compiled from State Farm insurance information from 2003 to 2007. 15 states were surveyed and almost 12,000 children below the age of 15 were studied. Interviews with drivers were also conducted.
Researchers could not definitively identify the origin of this pattern, but guessed that it had to do with the caution and "wisdom" that older age brings: "Perhaps grandparents are made more nervous about the task of driving with the precious cargo of their grandchildren," and adjust accordingly.
The lead researcher, Dr. Fred Henretig, 64, of Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, decided to conduct the study when he first began driving with his granddaughter in the backseat three years ago. He found that he was overly nervous and was curious as to the potential effects of this emotion in the population.
Previous studies diagnosed the dangers of drivers beyond the age of 65. In fact, the average age of a grandparent in the study was 58, which does not directly contradict earlier scholarship.
If you would like more information about how negligence and accident cases work in the state of New York, I encourage you to explore my educational website http://www.oginski-law.com. If you have legal questions, I urge you to pick up the phone and call me at 516-487-8207 or by e-mail at lawmed10@yahoo.com to answer your questions. That's what I do every day. I welcome your call.
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