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Driving Safely with Children
by Barbara King
Seat belt laws are for our benefit, our protection. Despite many
years of international seat belt education, there are still many
people who refuse or neglect to use seat belts. They also allow
young children to travel in the front seat of vehicles unharnessed.
We have all seen toddlers and little boys driving in the front
passenger seat with face pressed up against the dashboard, or
standing with face or forehead on the windscreen. My heart stops
when I see fathers, obviously feeling a sense of pride, casually
driving along with their boys in this way, oblivious to the danger
of the situation.
Even if you feel you are a competent driver who would never
endanger the life of your child, can you be that confident of the
other drivers on the road or even the road conditions? You owe it to
yourself and your child to take every possible safety precaution. It
is a matter of common sense. Why would whole nations declare it
illegal to drive without seatbelts? Surely it is because they are
aware that this is an essential safety measure that can prevent
senseless loss of life and injury. Clear people disregard such a
simple practice to such an extent that legislation is demanded.
From the abundance of infant car seats to be seen available in
local stores, clearly Trinidadian parents are taking measures to
protect their babies in cars. But there is more to car seat safety
than just installing one and placing baby on board. The car seat
must be installed according to the manufacturer’s instructions -
that means all. If the seat requires a top anchor make sure it is
properly installed according to directions and never use it without
that anchor. A loose seat is not a safe seat. If you are buying a
used seat be sure to get the instructions too. Be aware that
household baby carriers are not designed to protect an infant in a
car.
An infant should be placed in the back seat - that is the safest
area of the car. The child must be strapped in, reclining and facing
backwards, that is, facing the back of the seat of the car. It is
awkward and impractical, since the driver cannot see the face of the
child, however an appropriately placed mirror can solve that
problem. The front seat is unsafe for infants especially if the car
is fitted with airbags.
When the child weighs 20 - 40 pounds, the seat can be secured
facing forward. Once the child has outgrown the car seat, a booster
is recommended, but most parents locally seem to forgo that stage
and allow the child to ride unharnessed. This is where the trouble
begins for many parents. The child wants to be in the front seat, to
be able to see the road ahead or just to be able to stand between
the front seats and talk. Children’s behaviour in cars has been the
cause of near-misses and minor accidents. The wise parent instills
safe travelling habits as early as possible. That starts with having
appropriate seat belts properly installed in the rear seats.
Next on the list of safe travelling habits should be: the car
does not move until everyone is belted in. A child’s seat belt must
be snug over the hip or thigh bones, not over the belly. A seat belt
that crosses the child’s face or neck must be tucked behind the
child’s back. There should be one seat belt per person. Do not use
one seat belt for two children or a child and adult. Make this a
firm rule without exceptions. The car pulls over, as soon as it is
convenient, if any belt is unfastened. No exceptions.
Once you have everyone securely buckled up in the car, be wise
about other things you put in the vehicle. Imagine an accident
scenario with occupants safely belted in but groceries, stroller,
books and toys hurling around. To avoid this store movable objects,
especially heavy or hard ones, in the trunk.
And finally, teach your children about acceptable car behaviour,
for example, voices must be kept to a reasonable level, toys must
not be thrown and any behaviour that might distract or obstruct the
driver is out of the question. You could also, as some parents do,
have a no-eating-in-the-car policy to avoid choking incidents (and
keep your car that much cleaner).
When these basic habits are modelled, imparted reasonably and
with consistency, children will be cooperative, they want to be safe
too. Take the time to teach your family to travel safely. You can
replace a wrecked car, but not a wrecked life. |
