According to a National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) report, motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for children ages three to 14. Reduce the risk and implement these tips for safe driving when there are children in your vehicle:
- Young Children
- When children have outgrown a convertible safety seat, they should use a booster seat until they are 10 years old.
- Even when young children are tall enough to use an adult seat belt, they should ride in the backseat until they are 13 years old.
- Toddlers
- Keep toddlers in a rear-facing, convertible safety seat for as long as possible.
- When the child outgrows the safety seat, toddlers should sit in a forward-facing safety seat complete with a full harness.
- Infants
- Always drive with infants in a rear-facing safety seat.
- Once a child exceeds the manufacturer's height and weight limit of the seat, infants should continue to ride facing the rear in a convertible safety seat.
Remember, car seats are only effective in keeping children safe if they are installed correctly. Before driving with any child passengers, double-check that the safety seat is mounted correctly, locked in place and that all buckles and straps are intact.
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Excellent Article. Thanks for posting. I think people need to be reminded of how dangerous driving an automobile can be. It';s something we can't take for granted. Especially when we have kids in the car.
Posted by: Defensive Driver | 01/08/2012 at 10:43 PM