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from the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons
Diseases & Conditions

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Arthritis Broken Bones Osteoporosis Sports Injuries Tumors Children's Conditions
Ortho-pinion Blog
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Neck Back Shoulder Elbow Hand & Wrist Hip & Thigh Knee & Lower Leg Foot & Ankle

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Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome

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Arthroscopy Joint Replacement Preparing for Surgery Nonsurgical Treatments
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Neck Back Shoulder Elbow Hand & Wrist Hip & Thigh Knee & Lower Leg Foot & Ankle

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Knee Arthroscopy

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Neck Back Shoulder Elbow Hand & Wrist Hip & Thigh Knee & Lower Leg Foot & Ankle

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A Guide to Safety for Young Athletes

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from the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons

Diseases & Conditions

View All Topics
By Body Part

Featured



Popular Topics

Arthritis Broken Bones Osteoporosis Sports Injuries Tumors Children's Conditions
Ortho-pinion Blog

Treatment

View All Topics
By Body Part

Featured



Popular Topics

Arthroscopy Joint Replacement Preparing for Surgery Nonsurgical Treatments
Diagnostic Tests Ortho-pinion Blog

Recovery

View All Topics
By Body Part

Featured



Popular Topics

Recovery from Surgery Rehabilitation Exercise Handouts Pain Management
Ortho-pinion Blog

Staying Healthy

View All Topics
By Body Part

Featured



Popular Topics

Bone Health Fitness & Exercise Sports Injury Prevention Home & Recreational
Safety Ortho-pinion Blog Diet & Nutrition

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STAYING HEALTHY

Driving Safety

Traffic accidents are a major cause of serious injury and death in America.
Every day, orthopaedic surgeons see the horrible aftermath of people who choose
to drive while under the influence of alcohol or drugs, or do not wear safety
belts.

You can reduce this tragic toll by obeying traffic safety rules, driving
defensively, and keeping your vehicle in good mechanical condition. Most
importantly, wear safety belts, do not drink and drive, do not text and drive,
and always be aware of how medications you are taking might impact your driving.


AVOID DISTRACTIONS WHEN DRIVING

Many things can distract people when they are driving — children, pets, the
radio. As wireless technology has expanded, driving distractions have increased
to include a range of hand-held devices, such as cell phones, personal digital
assistants, and mp3 players.

A public service announcement from the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons
and the Orthopaedic Trauma Association.

According to the NHTSA,the most commonly performed potentially distracting
behaviors while driving are:


 * Talking to other passengers in the vehicle
 * Adjusting the car radio
 * Eating/drinking
 * Making/accepting phone calls
 * Interacting with children in the back seat
 * Using a portable music player

On any given day, approximately 600,000 drivers use a hand-held cell phone at
some point during their trip.

Of particular concern is the growth of texting while driving. According to the
NHTSA, respondents younger than age 25 report a higher likelihood of sending
text messages while driving than do older drivers. In addition, texting while
driving makes a crash much more likely to happen.



Be aware that distracted driving is a growing problem, and is especially
dangerous for young drivers. Many states are developing legislation to address
distracted driving. Be sure to follow these new laws and use common sense while
driving. If you are a parent, enforce strict driving rules for your teenagers.

Related Articles

STAYING HEALTHY

Distracted Walking

STAYING HEALTHY

Safety Guide for Mature Drivers

STAYING HEALTHY

Motorcycle Safety

STAYING HEALTHY

Child Safety Seats


DO NOT DRINK AND DRIVE

Whenever you plan to drive, do not drink alcohol. The least destructive result
is that you could lose your driver's license. The most serious outcome is that
you can kill yourself — or someone else.

Alcohol slows reflexes, impairs coordination, and interferes with concentration.
That is why many responsible people use the designated-driver method of road
safety. It is simple: one person in your party has only non-alcoholic drinks and
is the driver for the night. When hosting a gathering, do not let intoxicated
guests drive. Send them home with a friend, in a taxi, or invite them to spend
the night.




UNDERSTAND YOUR MEDICATIONS

Understand how medications can affect your ability to drive. Some medications —
both prescription and over-the-counter — can cause drowsiness or slow reaction
time. Always read the information that comes with your medication to ensure that
it does not cause side effects that could interfere with your ability to drive.
Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you are unsure about how a medication might
impact your driving.

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USE SAFETY BELTS

There are two collisions in every motor vehicle crash. The first occurs when the
vehicle strikes an object. However, injury or death more commonly occurs as a
result of the second collision, which happens when the driver or passenger
collides with the interior of the vehicle or strikes the ground after being
thrown from the vehicle.

The best protection for occupants involved in a collision is lap belts and
shoulder restraints. NHTSA estimates that in 2015, nearly 14,000 lives were
saved by the use of seat belts.




EXCUSES FOR NON-USE

The most common reasons for not using safety belts are based on false
assumptions.

 * Myth. Safety belts trap occupants in their vehicles, especially in cases of
   fire and submersion. I'd be better off if I'm thrown clear.
   Fact. Death by incineration or drowning accounts for less than one-tenth of 1
   percent of motor-vehicle-related trauma. Most passengers who are ejected from
   cars die and the majority of them are thrown out through the windshield.

 * Myth. Safety belts can cause injuries.
   Fact. It is true that injuries due to safety belts have been reported. But in
   these infrequent cases, the belt was worn incorrectly or the crash was so
   severe that the occupant would have been more seriously or fatally injured
   without a safety belt.

 * Myth. Safety belts are important only for long trips and high-speed
   expressway driving.
   Fact. The majority of traffic crashes happen close to home and at low speeds.


SAFETY BELTS AND PREGNANT WOMEN

The leading cause of fetal death in a motor vehicle is the death of the mother.
The best protection you can offer your unborn child is to wear a lap and
shoulder belt whenever you are on the road. Position the lap belt as low as you
can under the "baby bump," and let the shoulder strap rest between your breasts.
Wearing both belts in the right position will not increase the chances of damage
to the fetus and can keep you both safe.


SAFETY BELTS AND AIR BAGS

Air bags are not a substitute for safety belts. Air bags are designed to inflate
only during frontal collisions and are useful only as a supplement to safety
belts. They offer no protection during multiple crashes, rollovers, or side
contact. That is why safety belts must always be worn, even in cars equipped
with air bags.


USE FIXED HEADRESTS

Head restraints have cut the frequency of neck injuries by half. Fixed head
restraints are nearly twice as effective as adjustable restraints because
adjustable head restraints are often left in the down position, where they can't
protect someone of average height.


CHILD SAFETY SEATS

During a crash, a child unrestrained by a safety seat is like a rocket out of
control. The child can crash into or through the windshield or violently strike
other occupants. Even minor mishaps put children at risk. Being a safe driver
yourself is no excuse for you or your child to be unprotected. The careless act
of another driver could injure or kill your children. You increase that chance
if you hold your children or allow them to move about in the car unrestrained.

Passenger side air bags alone will not protect children in a crash. Children who
are standing or kneeling unrestrained in the front compartment of a vehicle are
at risk of injury from the inflating air bag.




WHY NOT HOLD A CHILD IN YOUR LAP?

A child held on an adult's lap has a much greater risk of being injured or
killed than a child who is secured in a safety seat. Experts refer to the
"on-lap" position as the "child-crusher" position. That is because, in a crash,
a child is likely to be crushed between the occupant and the dashboard or the
windshield.


PROPERLY INSTALL CHILD SAFETY SEATS

The law in most states requires that infants and young children be belted into
crash-tested safety seats that are appropriate to the child's age and size.

Even the best restraints will not help if they are not properly used. Remember,
the safety seat must be secured to the vehicle's seat the way the manufacturer
has suggested. Otherwise the safety seat also will become a rocket out of
control in a collision. Common mistakes are improper attachment of the restraint
to the car or improperly securing the belt around the child.



A child who is accustomed to a safety device from infancy will continue to
accept this restriction as a matter of course in later years. As part of their
education, children should be permitted to "buckle up" on school buses. The
educational and safety benefits of making safety belts available outweigh their
costs.


AGING AND DRIVING

As people age, their reaction time slows. Eyesight, particularly at night,
decreases, and it may be more difficult to deal with distractions. These changes
increase the risk of being in a crash. 

Organizations offer classes in many cities to update the mature driver. For more
information, see the American Association of Retired Persons' (AARP) "55 Alive/
Mature Driving Program" or contact your local American Automobile Association's
(AAA) club for details on its "Safe Driving for Mature Operators" course. These
classes can help the experienced driver adapt, maintain, and improve safe
driving habits.



Source: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA); National Safety
Council

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Last Reviewed

June 2017



AAOS does not endorse any treatments, procedures, products, or physicians
referenced herein. This information is provided as an educational service and is
not intended to serve as medical advice. Anyone seeking specific orthopaedic
advice or assistance should consult his or her orthopaedic surgeon, or locate
one in your area through the AAOS Find an Orthopaedist program on this website.

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