COMMENTARY – October 25, 2000

A Matter of Safety

I enforce rules in our household, sometimes very rigidly. As much as I do not enjoy being inflexible, it is sometimes necessary to be just that, particularly when it comes to the safety of young children.

When my husband is home, he usually takes our two children to school in the morning on his way to work. The other morning, our ten-year-old son planned to sit in the front seat of his father's compact sedan even though he knows I am opposed to this. As soon as our son sensed that I was heading toward the garage, he scooted out of the front seat and hauled himself and his things into the back seat ... as if I had not noticed where he was sitting.

I was annoyed, but not excessively so. After they departed, I was left to ponder why it is so difficult for our ten-year-old to listen and to comprehend the logic behind my rules. How difficult is it to just sit in the back seat?

Initially, I faulted my husband for not understanding the safety issue at hand. Children under the age of thirteen are not advised to sit in the front passenger seat of cars that are equipped with airbags. The reason is that young children's immature cervical spines can snap under the excessive force of airbag deployment. When deployed, airbags can be released at a rate of 150 to 300 miles per hour. Small adults and children, including those in car seats, seated in the front passenger seat are at risk if airbags are deployed during even the most minor of accidents.

If youngsters under the age of thirteen need to sit in the front passenger seat, they need to sit upright, be properly seat belted (with both lap and shoulder belts in place), and have their seat pushed as far to the rear as possible. These measures will reduce the impact airbag deployment may have upon young children's immature bodies. The best preventive measure to take, however, is to keep young children under the age of thirteen years in the back seat.

After scolding my husband for his failure to enforce safety rules in his car, my husband noted that he thought the front passenger seat was safer than the rear middle seat in which our son usually sat. The rear middle seat has only a lap belt. Since our son disliked the shoulder strap, he preferred to use the middle seat with the better view. It turns out that our son would be safest if he sat in the rear with a lap/shoulder strap.

Later in the afternoon, I picked up our son who glumly acceded to my request that he use a lap/shoulder seat belt. He understands vaguely why he needs to be strapped in correctly, but he misses his view of the front windshield and the shoulder strap annoys him. I would remark that his complaints are valid but inconsequential. His safety is paramount whether he comprehends it or not.

Why do I bring this issue up? There are reasons for inflexible parental rules. If we cherish the safety of our children, we should have the common sense to buckle them properly in the safest area of the car.

Fifteen years ago, when my nieces were young toddlers I was horrified to see them unbelted as my brother barreled down the highway. I commented that it was very unsafe for them to be romping in the car as he drove the speed limit. I failed, however, to make any reasonable impressions upon them. I could only sit by, and remain aghast, that my nieces were exposed to such unnecessary dangers.

Even today, in the year 2000, parents still court unnecessary peril while driving. On occasion, I spot an unbelted child jumping around in a car. I see plenty of pre-adolescents sitting in the front passenger seat of cars that are nearly all equipped with airbags. I see parents racing down residential streets in order to drop off their kids five seconds sooner.

A couple of weeks ago, I was very angry that a man tailgated me for over a mile and a half. He tried to pass me when it was clearly unreasonable and illegal to do so. Ironically enough, he followed me to the parking lot of my daughter's school. I was tempted to walk up to him and give him a lecture about tailgating. Then, I saw him emerge from his car cheerfully talking to his son.

Apparently, the father and son were bonding. I have seen this father-son dyad on other mornings. Even so, I can only wonder why this father dares to drive so recklessly with his son in the car. Next time, I will try to see if his pre-adolescent son is seated in the front passenger seat. I would not be surprised if he does.

Mizin P. Kawasaki, M.D.


THE NURTURING MOTHER


COMMENTARY – October 25, 2000 A Matter of Safety I enforce rules in our household, sometimes very rigidly. As much as I do not enjoy being inflexible, it is sometimes necessary to be just that, particularly when it comes to the safety of young children. When my husband is home, he usually takes our two children to school in the morning on his way to work. The other morning, our ten-year-old son planned to sit in the front seat of his father's compact sedan even though he knows I am opposed to this. As soon as our son sensed that I was heading toward the garage, he scooted out of the front seat and hauled himself and his things into the back seat ... as if I had not noticed where he was sitting. I was annoyed, but not excessively so. After they departed, I was left to ponder why it is so difficult for our ten-year-old to listen and to comprehend the logic behind my rules. How difficult is it to just sit in the back seat? Initially, I faulted my husband for not understanding the safety issue at hand. Children under the age of thirteen are not advised to sit in the front passenger seat of cars that are equipped with airbags. The reason is that young children's immature cervical spines can snap under the excessive force of airbag deployment. When deployed, airbags can be released at a rate of 150 to 300 miles per hour. Small adults and children, including those in car seats, seated in the front passenger seat are at risk if airbags are deployed during even the most minor of accidents. If youngsters under the age of thirteen need to sit in the front passenger seat, they need to sit upright, be properly seat belted (with both lap and shoulder belts in place), and have their seat pushed as far to the rear as possible. These measures will reduce the impact airbag deployment may have upon young children's immature bodies. The best preventive measure to take, however, is to keep young children under the age of thirteen years in the back seat. After scolding my husband for his failure to enforce safety rules in his car, my husband noted that he thought the front passenger seat was safer than the rear middle seat in which our son usually sat. The rear middle seat has only a lap belt. Since our son disliked the shoulder strap, he preferred to use the middle seat with the better view. It turns out that our son would be safest if he sat in the rear with a lap/shoulder strap. Later in the afternoon, I picked up our son who glumly acceded to my request that he use a lap/shoulder seat belt. He understands vaguely why he needs to be strapped in correctly, but he misses his view of the front windshield and the shoulder strap annoys him. I would remark that his complaints are valid but inconsequential. His safety is paramount whether he comprehends it or not. Why do I bring this issue up? There are reasons for inflexible parental rules. If we cherish the safety of our children, we should have the common sense to buckle them properly in the safest area of the car. Fifteen years ago, when my nieces were young toddlers I was horrified to see them unbelted as my brother barreled down the highway. I commented that it was very unsafe for them to be romping in the car as he drove the speed limit. I failed, however, to make any reasonable impressions upon them. I could only sit by, and remain aghast, that my nieces were exposed to such unnecessary dangers. Even today, in the year 2000, parents still court unnecessary peril while driving. On occasion, I spot an unbelted child jumping around in a car. I see plenty of pre-adolescents sitting in the front passenger seat of cars that are nearly all equipped with airbags. I see parents racing down residential streets in order to drop off their kids five seconds sooner. A couple of weeks ago, I was very angry that a man tailgated me for over a mile and a half. He tried to pass me when it was clearly unreasonable and illegal to do so. Ironically enough, he followed me to the parking lot of my daughter's school. I was tempted to walk up to him and give him a lecture about tailgating. Then, I saw him emerge from his car cheerfully talking to his son. Apparently, the father and son were bonding. I have seen this father-son dyad on other mornings. Even so, I can only wonder why this father dares to drive so recklessly with his son in the car. Next time, I will try to see if his pre-adolescent son is seated in the front passenger seat. I would not be surprised if he does. Mizin P. Kawasaki, M.D.