How to Keep Your Child Safe in the Car
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Family
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Driving is one of the most dangerous activities, yet it is something that the majority of us do in everyday life. Taking the right precautions to ensure that your child is safe whilst you’re driving is absolutely essential. Credo Asset Finance, a company who provide car finance, Norwich outline the most important factors to consider so that your child remains safe at all times in the car…
Child car seats
According to research, children who are between the ages of 4 and 8 are much likely to be injured in a car than those children that are under 4. While parents usually have a clear idea of the seating needed to keep their child safe when they are very young, they are often unaware of the correct seating arrangements for their children when they get older. The law has set out some clear child car seat and booster seat rules for children at different ages, weight and heights which are clearly outlined below:
The type of child car seat depends on the child’s weight:
· Babies and children up to 13kg should have a rear facing baby seat. Remember if this is placed in the front seat of the car, to deactivate any airbags.
· Children between 9-18kg should have forward or rear-facing baby seats.
· Children between 15-25kg should have forward-facing child car seats/booster seats.
· Children over 22kg should have a booster cushion.
· Children should use a child car seat until they are 12 years old or 135cm tall.
Furthermore it is important to remember to only use a diagonal seat belt (unless of course the car seat that you have for your child is designed for a diagonal seatbelt). Generally children are much safer in the back seats of the car and any children under the age of 12 should not sit in the front seat.
Safety even if the car isn’t moving
Parked cars can also be a big safety hazard for your children. If you leave your child in a car for a short period of time while, for example, when you nip into a shop, your child may cause more trouble than you think, putting their own safety as well as others safety at risk. They might be tempted to start playing with the gear stick or hand break causing the car to start moving, which could cause a serious accident, even if the car is not moving at full speed.
Leaving a child in the car can also be very dangerous for their health. The heating and cooling process for young infants is very different to an adult and they are very prone to overheating (their body temperature can rise three to five times more quickly than an adults). Therefore children can over heat in the car even if the temperatures outside are as cool as 15 degrees. So, avoid the risk of any accidents or health issues for your children by taking them with you whenever you leave the car – even if you are just quickly going out for one short minute.
Outside of the car
Children don’t need to be inside a car to be hurt by one. Make sure your child remains safe when you get out of the car by holding their hand or keeping them close by your side. It is important to keep a close eye on them, even in a place where it might appear to be safe. A survey conducted by Safe Kids Worldwide found that a majority of drivers speed in school zones, and that nearly a third violate stop signs in neighbourhoods where there are children. Car parks can also be a hazardous area for children – although it may seem relatively safe with cars parked and cars moving very slowly, a car may reverse and not be able to see a small child, so it is important to always have your guard up and be ready to anticipate the worst situation.
Combine safety with fun
As your children get older, it is important to educate them on how to be safe in the car, so why not make it more fun by turning it into a car game such as a mini safety quiz and reward them when they get any answer correct. After all, it will keep them entertained for those long car journeys where all they say is “are we nearly there yet?”
Child car seats
According to research, children who are between the ages of 4 and 8 are much likely to be injured in a car than those children that are under 4. While parents usually have a clear idea of the seating needed to keep their child safe when they are very young, they are often unaware of the correct seating arrangements for their children when they get older. The law has set out some clear child car seat and booster seat rules for children at different ages, weight and heights which are clearly outlined below:
The type of child car seat depends on the child’s weight:
· Babies and children up to 13kg should have a rear facing baby seat. Remember if this is placed in the front seat of the car, to deactivate any airbags.
· Children between 9-18kg should have forward or rear-facing baby seats.
· Children between 15-25kg should have forward-facing child car seats/booster seats.
· Children over 22kg should have a booster cushion.
· Children should use a child car seat until they are 12 years old or 135cm tall.
Furthermore it is important to remember to only use a diagonal seat belt (unless of course the car seat that you have for your child is designed for a diagonal seatbelt). Generally children are much safer in the back seats of the car and any children under the age of 12 should not sit in the front seat.
Safety even if the car isn’t moving
Parked cars can also be a big safety hazard for your children. If you leave your child in a car for a short period of time while, for example, when you nip into a shop, your child may cause more trouble than you think, putting their own safety as well as others safety at risk. They might be tempted to start playing with the gear stick or hand break causing the car to start moving, which could cause a serious accident, even if the car is not moving at full speed.
Leaving a child in the car can also be very dangerous for their health. The heating and cooling process for young infants is very different to an adult and they are very prone to overheating (their body temperature can rise three to five times more quickly than an adults). Therefore children can over heat in the car even if the temperatures outside are as cool as 15 degrees. So, avoid the risk of any accidents or health issues for your children by taking them with you whenever you leave the car – even if you are just quickly going out for one short minute.
Outside of the car
Children don’t need to be inside a car to be hurt by one. Make sure your child remains safe when you get out of the car by holding their hand or keeping them close by your side. It is important to keep a close eye on them, even in a place where it might appear to be safe. A survey conducted by Safe Kids Worldwide found that a majority of drivers speed in school zones, and that nearly a third violate stop signs in neighbourhoods where there are children. Car parks can also be a hazardous area for children – although it may seem relatively safe with cars parked and cars moving very slowly, a car may reverse and not be able to see a small child, so it is important to always have your guard up and be ready to anticipate the worst situation.
Combine safety with fun
As your children get older, it is important to educate them on how to be safe in the car, so why not make it more fun by turning it into a car game such as a mini safety quiz and reward them when they get any answer correct. After all, it will keep them entertained for those long car journeys where all they say is “are we nearly there yet?”
