One of your core duties as a parent is to ensure your child is always safe on the road. Whether you are going for a short drive to the market or on a holiday trip, your child should be comfortable and secure throughout the journey.
Investing in a good car seat is one of the most effective ways of ensuring child passenger safety. As a rule of thumb, children under 8 should ride in a child restraint system for protection in case of an accident or sudden car braking.
While the restraint may not prevent an accident from happening, it keeps your child in the same position, preventing them from getting bodily injuries or trauma if they’re in an accident. Keep reading to learn more about child passenger safety and ways to improve it.
Ways to Improve Child Safety in the Car
Here are a few ways in which you can keep your children safe when traveling:
Purchase Proper Car Seats and Restraints
Your child may fit in the normal car seat, but a child’s car safety seat is much more supportive. There are many different types of car seats and restraints that you may consider buying, depending on your child’s age. The ideal seat should fully support the back and neck of the child for comfort and safety. The belt should also fit well and be easily adjusted.
Here are other tips you can use to make sure your child’s car seat works as it should:
- Make sure the car seat is installed correctly. If you can’t figure out how to install it, you can ask for help from Certified Child Passenger Safety Technicians (CPSTs).
- Always keep your child’s seat in the back seat. This is the safest place for all children under 13 years.
- Don’t transition to the next seat too early.
Inspect the Child’s Car Seat Before Leaving
Having a child’s special seat in the car isn’t enough; you also need to ensure it’s in excellent condition. Before you leave:
- Inspect to ensure it’s well-fitted.
- Remove any clothes or blankets that could make the child uncomfortable during the trips.
- Ensure the adjustable strands are all working well, and place the child there by yourself if they are still small.
Don’t Overload the Car
It’s tempting to carry many children on school trips or holidays. Not only is this illegal, but it may also threaten your children’s safety when traveling.
If you are heading out on a road trip, only carry a few children to ensure all of them are comfortable. No child should be standing or being held by another. If possible, ensure there’s another adult inside to watch over them as you drive. Moreover, confirm if every child is well strapped to their seat.
Lock the Car
Besides keeping thieves off, locking your car also improves child safety. Children are playful, and it’s normal for them to hit the windows or the door multiple times, especially if the trip is long.
To avoid possible accidents, lock the doors before you move. Let the children know the dangers of opening the door when the car is moving. By doing so, you will easily manage them, making your trip more peaceful.
You can also activate the child safety locks to ensure your children are safe whether the car is standing or moving.
Ensure the Car Is in Great Condition
You should always inspect your car before you leave to ensure it’s in good condition. During the inspection, you can check out things such as lights, brakes, fluid levels, air filters, tires, engine coolant, and windshield. You should also make sure that you have an emergency kit on board, just in case you get into an accident and you need to perform first aid.
Set Rules
Set rules if the children are old enough to understand. Let them know the limits to what they can do while inside the car and the repercussions for not obeying the rules. For instance, if the windows are open, you may warn them about peeping outside.
You can also teach them to avoid loud noises, which may distract the driver. Most importantly, children should not remove their car seat belts unless you have instructed them to do so.
Avoid Driving Distractions
Using a phone when driving, eating, or listening to loud music are some of the most common driving distractions. Sounds of children yelling or crying may also be distracting. As a parent or caregiver, managing those distractions is important for a safe trip.
Keep the children calm and relaxed, and avoid anything that could keep your focus off the road. If there are many children and you feel tired, don’t hesitate to engage an adult to help you manage the children and offer emotional support.
Don’t Leave a Child Alone in the Car
Avoid leaving your little one alone in the car for an extended period unless someone watches over them. They may touch the handbrake or car keys and create a huge mess.
If the windows are closed and you stay outside for a long time, your child could suffocate due to excess heat. Thus, if you have to go out, go with the kid. And if you have to leave them behind, ensure an adult watches them so they don’t touch anything they shouldn’t.
Improve Child Passenger Safety Today
Traveling with a child can be overwhelming, especially if the trip is long. It’s even more challenging when there are many children on board. However, if you prioritize child passenger safety, the trip will be exciting and safe for you and your kids.
One of the ways in which you can improve your child’s car safety is by investing in a good car seat. You also need to keep the vehicle in excellent condition and set some safety rules for your children to follow when they’re riding in the car. By doing so, you will have peace of mind in knowing that your children are safe throughout the trip.
