Are Grandparents better drivers?
ST. PETERSBURG - Kids may be safest in cars driven by their grandparents rather than their parents, much to the surprise of researchers at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia.
"The injury rate was considerably lower," said Dr. Fred Henriteg. He oversaw the review accidents involving nearly 12,000 children in 15 states and concluded children's risk of injury was 50 percent lower when riding with a grandparent.
That finding surprised Dr. Henriteg because statistically, older drivers are involved in more accidents.
However, the findings do not surprise many parents and grandparents.
"Because of age and maturity," Roz Hurst theorized. "You know, life experience."
Another grandmother, Barbara Stacy, says other things may be competing for parents' attention.
"With the cell phones and everything, a lot of the younger parents I think are on the phone, distracted," Stacy said.
Shiela Marable has a 1-year-old daughter and thinks her parents are extra cautious about everything.
"It's not their child, so they have to be extra careful with the child," she said.
Jason Yaber admits he speeds and suspects his parents do not.
"They're not in a rush to get anywhere," Yaber said. "I'm in a rush all of the time."
The study did not determine why the risk of injury is lower with grandparents behind the wheel, but it did note the age of the driver made little difference in the nature of injuries children sustain in the event of a crash.
For more grandparent information go to http://www.twofortheroadusa.com/ click on Grandparents on the go and Cathy's Car Corner.
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