Colombia
Within the framework of the forum ‘The consumption of psychoactives when driving motor vehicles: a risk factor for the safety of the movements of our children and adolescents organized by the Liga Liga contra la Violencia Violencia, they reported that, according to figures from Forensic Medicine, the deaths of children and adolescents in road accidents rank first among violent deaths due to externally caused injuries that have been recorded during the first quarter of 2024.
According to what they indicated, a total of 133 incidents have been recorded and in more than 30% of these cases, it was evident that minors were drivers of vehicles, mainly motorcycles.
In fact, according to Sandra Moreno, a professional at the reference center of the National Institute of Legal Medicinemore than 30% of children and adolescents who have died in transportation events were drivers. Of these, more than 80% were motorcycle drivers. According to evidence, minors have begun to drive these types of vehicles. since 10 years old.
“If we are going to look at behavior from the point of view of the central nervous system, the part of the brain that gives that perception for risk management to humans is the part of the forehead. This frontal cortex takes around more than two decades to fully develop. From that point of view, we should not let children and adolescents drive, much less a motorcycle.”, explained Sandra Moreno, professional at the reference center of the Institute of Legal Medicine.
Bringing child protection to the center of the debate
By the way, from the League against Road Violence, they call to bring the safety of children to the center of the debate and also to warn about the consumption of psychoactive substances while driving motor vehicles. For example, Mary Botagisso, director of the organization, warned that non-alcoholic drunkenness is one of the main risk factors.
“62% of children who die die in interaction with a motorcycle or as motorcycle users and there are risk factors such as the combination of speed with the consumption of psychotropic substances, which is injuring and killing our children. Non-alcoholic drunkenness is one of the risk factors that is leading our children to death and lifelong disabling injuries.”.
How to prevent?
Against this, from the Pan American Health Organization They recommend improving information systems so that these cases are recorded and there is evidence, showing the impact of the problem with the aim of raising awareness and sensitizing the populations, and developing policies and laws to have a regulatory framework that allows addressing the problem.
