[s-cars] Kids and cars

[james McCarthy]

I'd avoid a pick-up or older SUV at all costs.  The
single vehicle accident rate is simply unacceptable -
nevermind what happens when you wreck - roll over. 
Some of the new SUV's are better (volvo, BMW, VW) put
these are still pretty pricy for a new driver.

Particularly nasty are the extended cab pick-ups which
the CHOP (probally the premir childrens hospital) has
a position statement recomending no child ride in
secondary to the injury risk:
http://www.chop.edu/traumalink/download/2003/pickup_final.pdf

A large safe and not too fast car(volvo, audi, MB,
BMW, VW) is the way to go IMHO.
I'd have loved an s-car at 16 - but no teenage male
should drive anything this fast. 
 
The vehicle should have:
No rear wheel drive (front and AWD are much easier to
control for the inexperienced)
Airbags 
ABS
Good tires
three point belts (some truck have only lap belts in
the rear seat).

A teen drivers course is probabally money very well
spent.

I'd check any car here before putting my kids in them:
http://www.safercar.gov

Roll over risk
http://www.safercar.gov/RollRatings2.cfm

an interesting look at suv's
http://www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/pdf/nrd50/ciren/2001/0901nhtsa.pdf

Best of luck
-jamie




		
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