Safety When Transporting Children

Every year, thousands of car-related injuries and deaths are reported due to negligence on the part of the driver. Parents and drivers who are traveling with children must always take extra care in order to avoid accidents and fatalities from happening, which is backed up by a post by Nuna on baby car seats. Clearly, kids are not aware of the safety measures needed when inside vehicles. Parents can always remind their kids to wear their seatbelts and behave inside the car, but it is ultimately their responsibility to travel safely with their kids.

Here are six tips on how you can ensure your children’s safety while traveling:

Follow child safety laws

Child car seat laws must always be followed when traveling in a car with a child. The general rule is children who are riding in the front seat of the car must be provided with the right child car seat. For newborns up to 15-month-old babies, the child restraint needed is a rearward-facing baby seat. Other child restraints include a combination seat, forward-facing child seat, a booster cushion, and a high-backed booster seat. The type of child restraint to be used varies based on the age range or the weight of the child. This law must be followed until the child is 12-years-old or 135 cm. tall, whichever of the two comes first. After which, the child can use the adult seatbelt.

Know the road

Thought it might have been several years – or a couple of decades – since you passed your driving test, be honest: are you totally confident on the rules of the road? Laws change, after all. Don’t be too proud to spend some time sharpening your knowledge by utilizing some of the online theory test practices available. Remember, drivers of a certain generation won’t even have been required to take a theory test!

Learn to use child restraints

Some accidents can still happen even when your child is in a child restraint. You must also know how to properly install it in your vehicle. Take the time to read the instructions that come with the restraint, so that you will be ready the next time you travel with your child. Check if your vehicle supports LATCH (Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children). This can make it easier for you to install a child restraint securely. Remember that safety only comes with the proper usage of the restraint.

Avoid distractions

Plenty car-related accidents are caused by distractions, such as phone calls and texting. Avoid these distractions and concentrate on driving, especially when inside the vehicle with kids. The noise kids can make while playing inside a car is enough to be a distraction, so it is better to keep your hands off items that can hinder you from driving safely.

Follow speed limits

Another way to avoid getting into an accident is to follow speed limits. These limits are provided to guide drivers on how to drive safely when driving in different roads. Generally, if there are no speed limit signs, the ideal speed is 30 mph. However, drivers must also consider the weather conditions when driving. When it’s snowing and raining and the road is slippery and wet, it is advisable to go a bit under the speed limit to avoid accidents.

Never leave children inside the car

There have also been a number of reports of children suffocating or getting into an accident when left alone in the car. Never leave your child in a car, even if just for a few seconds. Leaving them in the vehicle unsupervised can result in injuries from getting stuck in power windows and strangling themselves with the seatbelt.

It is always important to follow these safety measures when driving with your children. By following these tips, you are sure to get to your destination without trouble.