Be honest. Do you worry about your kids’ safety when their grandparents, your parents, drive them places? Do you worry about your safety when your parents drive you places?

A little bit?

A lot?

One of my daughter’s grandparents drives like a New York City cab driver; all acceleration and breaking with no in-between. (I can write this even though they read this blog because I know he/she will think I am referring to one of the other three.)

But it is not just their behavior behind the wheel that frightens us, is it? Grandparents are horrible when it comes to seatbelts and child safety seats. After all, they did not need them when they were raising us, and we (the lucky survivors) turned out OK.

Well, fear no more!

A new study published in Pediatrics, my favorite academic journal, reveals that our kids are safer driving with their grandparents than they are driving with us. When their grandchildren are in the car, grandparents get into far fewer accidents than parents do when our children are in the car. Moreover, when there is an accident and children are in the car, children are twice as likely to be injured if they are riding with their parents than if they are riding with their grandparents.

I know. I was shocked, too. But the research is solid.

Before I let grandparents off of the hook too quickly, I would like to note that, when they are driving alone, people over the age of 60 are more likely to be involved in accidents than younger adults. Moreover, the study also found that children who drive with their grandparents are less likely to be optimally restrained.

The study’s authors conclude that grandparents adopt safer driving practices when their grandchildren are in the car, which is awesome. Our parents love our children, apparently more than they loved us.

If you let your kids’ grandparents drive your kids, do so with increased confidence and the warm feeling that comes from knowing how much they care about their grandchildren. Then check the safety belts.