We’ve all heard automobile accidents are the leading cause of death among children and teens. A new study has brought that sobering stat into sharper focus, finding more than half of the nearly 10,000 children ages 8 to 17 who were killed in car crashes over a six-year period were riding with a teen driver.
The study also found more than three-fourths of fatal crashes happened on roads with speed limits higher than 45 miles and hour, and two-thirds of those who died weren’t wearing seat belts.
“Knowing the risks can help parents and teens make smart decisions about which rides are safe, and which ones are off limits,” said Dr. Flaura Koplin Winston, a doctor at The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and lead author of the study. (Associated Press)