Driver Tips for Parents with Small Children

Parents with small children should take extra precaution when driving. This includes the use of child restraint systems and proper placement of car seats so a small child can be a safe and comfortable passenger. Here are some important facts and details to consider:

  • Accidents involving motor vehicles is the leading cause of death for children between the ages of 3 and 14 years old.
  • The use of child safety seats reduces the risk of death in passenger cars by 54% for toddlers ages 1 to 4 years and 71% for infants.
  • All children ages 12 and under should ride in the back seat. Riding in the back seat can reduce the risk of serious injury for children 16 and under by about 40%. When a child sits in the backseat this eliminates the injury risk of deployed air bags. Additionally, children are placed in the safest part of the vehicle in the event of a crash.
  • Children are recommended by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to use booster seats until they are 8 years old or 4’9″ tall.

 Child Restraint Systems

For parents with small children, child restraint systems is a critical issue. Children should be seated in a car seat placed in the back seat of the vehicle. While this may sound like a simple solution, the reality is that children of different ages and sizes require different restraints. It raises questions about what type of car seat might be the most suitable. How does a parent know that their child is properly secured in the car seat in the event of an emergency? In response to such questions there are numerous safety tips from experts and safety institutes.

Car Seat Safety Tips

First and foremost, it’s important to choose the right restraint for a child’s age and size. Also, always seat children in the rear.

  • Infants and toddlers should ride facing the rear until they are 2 years of age or until they reach the height and weight limits of their child restraint.
  • Make sure the car seat straps are kept snug.
  • When the child becomes too big to ride facing the rear, keep them as safe as possible when forward-facing.
  • Make sure everyone in the car is buckled up.
  • Don’t start (or stop) using a booster seat too soon. Safe use of a booster seat requires the child to be at least 4 years old, weight 40 lbs., and be mature enough to sit properly in the booster.
  • After installing a child’s car seat, have it checked by a trained technician.
  • The center seat is generally the safest spot in the car for children. Keep this in mind.

Children are much safer in cars than they used to be. Motor vehicle crash deaths among children have reduced significantly over the last 40 years. Parents can keep their children safe by using good responsible practices such as those covered in this article.

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