Belt Your Kids Up

There are few things that annoy me more than people taking completely unnecessary safety risks when driving their cars.  It annoys me because not only does it put them at risk (a selfless act as we all have someone to care about us) but of course it also puts other road users at risk, some of who are very vulnerable indeed.

I’m sure that if you’re reading this article then you are not one of the people above, who would put others at risk.  However, I feel compelled, after recently seeing it not happening, to give information how to properly ensure that your young child is safely secured in their seat.  Here are my top tips:

* Be shown, if at all possible, how to fit not only the car seat but your child into the seat.  This will be safer for everyone in the vehicle and will be less stressful for your child
* Keep the manufacturer instructions in your car and refer to them whenever you get stuck on how to position/use the car seat for your child
* Don’t position a child in a seat with an active airbag – this is dangerous
* Position the seatbelt and ensure the buckle is away from the frame.  This is to ensure that, should the worst happen, the buckle doesn’t collapse under pressure against the seat
* Make sure there is the absolute minimum of slack – this is to make sure that the seat remains in place for every journey

* Babies who can’t yet hold their heads up should be in a rear facing seat – or better yet transported as little as possible

Remember, anything in a vehicle that is unrestrained that goes flying through the air can take on 30 to 60 times its own body weight when in a crash of only 30mph.  Bear that in mind when fitting your child next time.  If you have ISOFIX systems in your car then obviously it is better to use those to be even safer.  I’d also advice to be extra cautious when driving your vehicle when a child is in it.  Granted, you can’t account for the behaviour of others but you can try to be alert behind the wheel or your own car.