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Victims Of Themselves

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By KRIS DIBIOVANNI

The Tampa Tribune

Published: June 24, 2008

Too much has already been written about Nick Bollea's culpability in the accident that severely injured his friend John Graziano. However, almost nothing has been said about Graziano's own contribution to his injuries. Knowing he was breaking the law by not doing so, knowing his longtime friend's propensity for speed and impulsiveness, why he did not put on his seat belt? This simple precaution might have enabled him to walk away from the accident. His failure to consider his own safety almost certainly was a major factor in the injuries he received. His parents can blame Nick Bollea all they want, but their own son is also partly responsible.

Unfortunately, by not buckling up, John Graziano was just acting like many other young people. Even though seat-belt use by all types of drivers is approaching 80 percent, the DOT says only about 69 percent of teens and young adults wear them. More males go without than females; fewer passengers wear them than drivers. One survey at a high school entrance found that almost half the student passengers were not belted, even when riding with an adult.

Years of studies by The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration have revealed that seat belts cut the risk of moderate to critical injury in half. Recent figures show close to 80 percent of 16-24 year olds killed in nighttime car accidents were not wearing seatbelts, and during the day, almost 60 percent of young fatalities were unrestrained. So why don't kids wear their seat belts? NHTSA says it has to do with inexperience and fearlessness. Which leads me to some fascinating research on young brains I've been reading about lately.

Jay Giedd at the National Institute of Mental Health in Bethesda, Md., and some colleagues at McGill University in Montreal found that an area of the brain called the prefrontal cortex starts growing again just before puberty, and continues to mature until the mid- 20s. The prefrontal cortex, or "boss of the brain," is in charge of planning, working memory, organization, and controlling moods. As it matures, this part of the brain reasons better, makes better judgments, and develops more control over impulsive behavior. According to Giedd, the best estimate for when the brain is truly mature is about age 25.

Dr. Ronald Dahl, a psychiatrist at the University of Pittsburgh, says hormones also play a significant role in adolescent decision-making. Says Dahl, "Adolescents tend to seek out situations where they can allow their emotions and passions to run wild."

A third researcher, Laurence Steinberg at Temple University, has been studying risk- taking in both teens and adults. Using a simulation where the driver must decide whether to run a yellow light, he found teens and adults usually make safe choices when alone. However, if friends are present, the teenagers start to take more risks.

So let's analyze the Bollea-Graziano situation. We start with one over-indulged teen with immature decision-making ability who gets his thrills from fast cars, and is more inclined to take a risk because his buddy is with him. Then we add a young adult male passenger, with similar inclinations and still-maturing brain, who disdains a seatbelt. Should it surprise anyone that this scenario had the potential to end badly?

Sadly, these young daredevils are only two among hundreds of thousands of young people who get behind the wheel every day with the same desire to have some thrills, the same inability to make mature decisions, and the same hormone-driven emotions. Is it any wonder that the leading cause of death among 16- to 20-year-olds is automobile crashes? What can a parent do about it? First, set the example by always wearing your seat belt. Second, insist that they wear their seat belt at all times, under all circumstances, no excuses. Lastly, kiss your kids every time they leave the house. It may be the last chance you'll get.

Kris DiGiovanni teaches in Pasco County

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