In three decades as a brain surgeon, Dr. Charles Tator has operated on too many mangled teenagers hurt in preventable car crashes.
Social worker Gary Direnfeld has worked with too many brain-injured youth struggling to learn to speak or tie their shoes again after motor vehicle collisions.
Both men, activists for the prevention of risky driving, know there are no easy answers on how to keep teenagers safer in cars. But here are a few things they'd like to tell parents: Nag. Make rules and be nosy and bossy about enforcing them. Don't buy your kid a fast or sporty vehicle. Never take their promises of safe behaviour at face value. And remember that ordinary kids – even well-behaved ones who are usually responsible – get killed and maimed in automobiles.
In a culture that encourages parents to be their kids' friends, it isn't fashionable advice. Nor is it easy.
But those who have seen up close the carnage of adolescent recklessness mixed with several tons of moving steel say parental vigilance has to be a cornerstone.
"Where parents have any modicum of control, they have to exercise it," says Direnfeld of Dundas, Ont., creator of the I Promise Program, an international teen safe driving initiative.
"Nobody has got this solved," says Tator, neurosurgeon at Toronto Western Hospital and founder of the injury prevention program ThinkFirst Foundation of Canada. "It has to be a constant barrage of different ways of penetrating the psyche."
Automobile crashes are the leading cause of death and injury among young Canadians. Yet Direnfeld says it's hard to get parents engaged in risk prevention.
"They'll confuse a teen who behaves (responsibly) otherwise with a good driver. But many `good' teens die in car crashes."
Parents want to believe the best about their kids, and teenagers can be convincing.
"But what they don't have is experience. Teens think they can handle more situations than they can, they even convince themselves."
No, they won't drive too fast, they promise. They won't talk on the cell, blare the music or cram too many kids in the car. They may mean it, but their developing brains are susceptible to impulsivity and peer pressure. They lack the judgment that comes with experience.
"It's on the basis of experience that the brain rewires itself (for adulthood)," says Direnfeld. But until that experience is accumulated, young drivers need extra safeguards that are removed in stages.
Prevention strategies have evolved, ranging from scare tactics to bringing crash survivors into classrooms. Tougher laws such as graduated driver licensing and engineering (anti-lock brakes, and airbags for example) have helped reduce death and injury rates when teens are behind the wheel.
But still, the Insurance Bureau of Canada says drivers aged 16 to 19 are four times more likely to die in a car collision than those 25 to 34; nine times more likely than drivers 45 to 54.
Statistics Canada reported last month that while overall motor vehicle accident deaths dropped sharply between 1979 and 2004, the death rate was significantly higher among those ages 15 to 24, and particularly young men.
So how do we know which prevention strategies work?
Experts say what's needed is a combination of parental monitoring, education and legislation. Direnfeld's I Promise Program centres on a nine-page parent-youth safe driving contract (available for $10 at ipromiseprogram.com). It's aimed at getting kids and parents talking and helping them agree – and sign a commitment – to family rules.
Direnfeld designed the contract eight years ago with a grant from the Ontario Neurotrauma Foundation and input from Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario researchers, police, insurers, driving instructors, health professionals and injury prevention groups. At the time his son was approaching the driving age. "I didn't want him as a client."
The contract also helps families set restrictions on driving at night and with passengers – two huge risk factors for new drivers – which can be loosened in stages as the driver gains experience. This staged approach mirrors graduated licensing introduced in Ontario in 1994 and in place across Canada.
The effectiveness of prevention strategies is difficult to assess. ThinkFirst, which runs education programs in schools, has surveyed kids and found they pay attention and retain information three months later. It's less clear how that will affect behaviour.
Researchers caution that commonly used scare tactics, including graphic footage of car crashes, may not have lasting impact. Kids tune out if the horror overpowers the message or they feel manipulated.
Direnfeld says teens are quick to distance themselves, claiming "that guy was an idiot," or "I wouldn't do something that stupid."
The last thing they want to believe is it could happen to them.
Tator says crash survivors, including those who are paralyzed, can be highly effective "voices of injury prevention" when they tell their stories to kids and teens. He's had letter
ใน 3 ทศวรรษที่สมอง ดร. Charles Tator ได้ดำเนินบนเจ็บในโรคที่สามารถป้องกันรถวัยรุ่น mangled มากเกินไปสังคมสงเคราะห์ Gary Direnfeld ได้ทำงานกับเยาวชนที่ได้รับบาดเจ็บสมองมากเกินไปที่ดิ้นรนเพื่อเรียนรู้การพูด หรือผูกรองเท้าอีกครั้งหลังจากรถยนต์ชนทั้งชาย นักเคลื่อนไหวเพื่อป้องกันความเสี่ยงในการขับขี่ รู้ว่า มีไม่มีคำตอบที่ง่ายในการให้เยาวชนปลอดภัยในรถยนต์ แต่นี่คือสิ่งที่พวกเขาต้องการบอกผู้ปกครอง: ถากถาง ทำให้กฎ และจะส่าย และเสนอเกี่ยวกับการบังคับใช้ได้ อย่าซื้อของเด็กรถเร็ว หรือสปอร์ต ไม่ใช้สัญญาของพวกเขาปลอดภัยของมูลค่าที่ตรา และอย่าลืมว่า เด็กปกติเด็กดีแม้แต่คนที่รับผิดชอบมักจะ – ฆ่า และ maimed ในรถยนต์ในวัฒนธรรมที่ส่งเสริมให้พ่อแม่เป็น เพื่อนของเด็กของพวกเขา มันไม่ใช่คำแนะนำที่ทันสมัย หรือมันเป็นเรื่องง่ายแต่คนที่ได้ดูดีการสังหารของวัยรุ่นซึ่งผสมกับหลายตันเหล็กเคลื่อน บอกพอผู้ปกครองมี ความสำคัญ"พ่อแม่มีจำนวนใด ๆ ของตัวควบคุม พวกเขามีการออกกำลังกาย," กล่าวว่า Direnfeld ของสเป็น Ont. ผู้สร้างของฉันสัญญาโปรแกรม นานาชาติวัยรุ่นปลอดภัยขับเคลื่อนโครงการ"ไม่มีใครมีนี้แก้ไข กล่าวว่า Tator ผ่าตัดที่โรงพยาบาลเวสเทิร์นโตรอนโตและป้องกันการบาดเจ็บของโปรแกรมพื้นฐาน ThinkFirst ของแคนาดา "มันมีจะ ป่วนคงวิธีการเจาะจิตใจ"Automobile crashes are the leading cause of death and injury among young Canadians. Yet Direnfeld says it's hard to get parents engaged in risk prevention."They'll confuse a teen who behaves (responsibly) otherwise with a good driver. But many `good' teens die in car crashes."Parents want to believe the best about their kids, and teenagers can be convincing."But what they don't have is experience. Teens think they can handle more situations than they can, they even convince themselves."No, they won't drive too fast, they promise. They won't talk on the cell, blare the music or cram too many kids in the car. They may mean it, but their developing brains are susceptible to impulsivity and peer pressure. They lack the judgment that comes with experience."It's on the basis of experience that the brain rewires itself (for adulthood)," says Direnfeld. But until that experience is accumulated, young drivers need extra safeguards that are removed in stages.Prevention strategies have evolved, ranging from scare tactics to bringing crash survivors into classrooms. Tougher laws such as graduated driver licensing and engineering (anti-lock brakes, and airbags for example) have helped reduce death and injury rates when teens are behind the wheel.But still, the Insurance Bureau of Canada says drivers aged 16 to 19 are four times more likely to die in a car collision than those 25 to 34; nine times more likely than drivers 45 to 54.Statistics Canada reported last month that while overall motor vehicle accident deaths dropped sharply between 1979 and 2004, the death rate was significantly higher among those ages 15 to 24, and particularly young men.So how do we know which prevention strategies work?Experts say what's needed is a combination of parental monitoring, education and legislation. Direnfeld's I Promise Program centres on a nine-page parent-youth safe driving contract (available for $10 at ipromiseprogram.com). It's aimed at getting kids and parents talking and helping them agree – and sign a commitment – to family rules.Direnfeld designed the contract eight years ago with a grant from the Ontario Neurotrauma Foundation and input from Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario researchers, police, insurers, driving instructors, health professionals and injury prevention groups. At the time his son was approaching the driving age. "I didn't want him as a client."The contract also helps families set restrictions on driving at night and with passengers – two huge risk factors for new drivers – which can be loosened in stages as the driver gains experience. This staged approach mirrors graduated licensing introduced in Ontario in 1994 and in place across Canada.The effectiveness of prevention strategies is difficult to assess. ThinkFirst, which runs education programs in schools, has surveyed kids and found they pay attention and retain information three months later. It's less clear how that will affect behaviour.Researchers caution that commonly used scare tactics, including graphic footage of car crashes, may not have lasting impact. Kids tune out if the horror overpowers the message or they feel manipulated.Direnfeld says teens are quick to distance themselves, claiming "that guy was an idiot," or "I wouldn't do something that stupid."The last thing they want to believe is it could happen to them.Tator says crash survivors, including those who are paralyzed, can be highly effective "voices of injury prevention" when they tell their stories to kids and teens. He's had letter
การแปล กรุณารอสักครู่..
