According to the National Institutes of Health, children ages 1-12 have the highest chance of dying in a car accident than for any other reason. Whether you have an infant or a newly licensed 16 year old driver, following these simple steps can make the difference between life and death.
Seat belts
The one feature that more than doubles your kid’s safety is a seat belt Making sure your child is properly buckled up is one of the best ways you can keep your child safe in the car. However, if you have a little one who will grow up to be an escape artist, there are a few solutions. You can find products like seat belt alarms and buckle covers that help bolster seat belt safety. These devices alert parents when their little ones aren’t buckled up, or prevent them from unbuckling themselves.
Leaving children in hot vehicles
Busy and overtired parents can forget their children in a vehicle. Consumer Reports stated that 500 children have died since 2008 due to being left in a hot vehicle. Leave Junior at home if you can’t take him out to run errands with you.
Car Seats
The best way to protect your little ones is to put them in the right seat, at the right time, and use it the right way. Choosing the correct car seat for your child reduces the risk of death for toddlers by 54% and for infants by 71%. Take the time to research the best car seat on the market for your child. See The National Highway & Traffic Safety Administration’s list for the most updated information: http://www.nhtsa.gov/Safety/CPS
Keep it Clean!
Keeping your car clean and well-kept might not be one of the things that you immediately think about when making sure your child is safe in the car. It’s surprisingly important. Cleaning the vents will prevent dust from going into your family’s lungs. Keeping loose items like cups, food containers and cell phones stored will stop those items from becoming dangerous missiles in the event of an accident. And clean windows and mirrors maximize visibility, especially at night or during bad weather.
Age – It’s NOT Just a Number
Younger children are easier to keep under your control, but once your child turns 16, all bets are off. One option for parents is to install a GPS tracking application on their phone or hard-wire one to the car. This way, you will know where they are at all times. There are also new technologies that can block all calls to and from your teen’s phone (except 911) while they drive, removing the urge to make calls or text on their mobile device.
Adopting good driving habits will influence your kids once they start driving for themselves. Utilizing these tips, your child will ride as safely as possible.