Your children are your most precious cargo when you’re on the road. Whether they’re still turned around facing backward in their car seat or they're driving on their own, you always worry about their safety in vehicles. No matter who is driving, it’s easy to sit down and think of all the things that could go wrong.
Car crashes are one of the leading causes of death in the United States. Thousands of people lose their lives each year as a result of car accidents. More specifically, nearly one thousand seven hundred lives were lost in North Carolina last year due to fatal car accidents. Statistics like these are enough to make any parent nervous about their child passengers.
Luckily, there are preventative measures you can take to increase your child’s safety when they’re in a vehicle.
Legislature surrounding child safety and vehicles also works to implement extensive measures to continue to reduce safety risks. Here are a few ways to keep your child passengers safe:
Four Tips for Keeping Child Passengers Safe
1. Choose the right car seat
There are several different types of car seats to choose from. Thankfully the tag on the car seat is your friend when you need help deciding which one is the right fit for your child. Make sure to look for the recommended height, weight, and age limits to make sure you select the correct size. If you’re buying online, you can find these specifications in the product description.
Infant car seats are usually rear-facing, while seats for toddlers and older children are usually front facing with a five-point harness. Once a child reaches eight years old or weighs eighty pounds, they can retire from a car seat to a booster seat.
Your child’s car seat is an essential part of their safety in a vehicle. Jumping to a larger size car seat or staying in a car seat that is too small is an unsafe practice that could lead to injury in the car or an accident.
2. Keep your infant rear-facing
It’s up for debate how long an infant should stay rear-facing. The state of North Carolina follows the American Academy of Pediatrics recommendations for car seats. They recommend that all children under the age of two years old should remain in a rear-facing seat in the back seat of the vehicle.
The requirement for this type of seat is to protect their head, shoulders, and spine in the case of a car accident.
3. Select the right vehicle
Looking for the right vehicle to transport your children in the safest way possible? There are several options to choose from, and it can be overwhelming to decide.
Look for vehicles that have child safety locks on rear doors, side and front impact airbags, rearview cameras, and back seats with low anchors and tethers for children (LATCH) systems installed for an easy car seat installation.
Shopping for a family-safe vehicle online rather than at a car lot allows parents to do a side-by-side comparison for safety features.
4. Teach your children vehicle safety
Have you ever heard that a child’s brain is like a sponge? They’re able to soak up information and learn from their environment at an early age. That’s why it is so important to demonstrate vehicle safety to children, even when you think they aren’t looking.
What can you do to model vehicle safety for your children?
- Always wear your seat belt. Lead by example by showing your children this important aspect of vehicle safety, no matter their age. Teach them that putting on your seatbelt is the easiest way to prevent injuries in case you find yourself in a car accident.
- Drive the speed limit. Speed is one of the biggest factors in causing accidents. Teach your children early to mind the speed limit.
- Is your child learning their colors? Have them start paying attention to traffic lights so that they learn to look for them. Teach them what each color means and how it keeps us safe on the roads.
First Aid Collision
Our experienced and talented technicians are happy to help determine any potential safety threats within your vehicle. Transporting your child in a vehicle that is having routine problems or has recently been in a small altercation like a fender bender can be dangerous if the root problem is not found and solved.
Make sure that your vehicle stays in top condition to keep your children safe. A repair specialist can help assure that your vehicle is safe to transport your precious cargo. First Aid Collision of Asheville specializes in auto-body repairs from collisions to weather. Take the time to address ‘smaller’ fixes and strange noises as they appear to ensure your car’s safety.
From a minor scratch to an accident, First Aid Collision’s professional and transparent technicians will get you back on the road as quickly as possible. Give us a call at (828) 684-4484 or send us an online message to schedule your appointment with one of our experienced insurance estimators.