5Tips to Keep Kids Safe Around Cars
In so many ways, kids and cars just don't go together. When they are tiny, their small bodies have trouble dealing with the force of even a minor accident and car insurance claim. When they get older, they hate being cooped up. When they get bigger still, they want to imitate Mum and Dad... often with grave consequences. We know kids and cars don't mix, without the critical addition of an alert adult. Today we look at 5 tips to stop your most prized possessions from coming into conflict with one of your most dangerous tools.
1. Car seat watchpoints
There is a lot of misunderstanding and confusion surrounding the best practices for children and car seats. Here is a summary:
- Children should have at least a three-point harness from birth until they weigh 20 kilos or are three years old
- Car seats should be rear-ward facing before six months - but the longer the better
- Never place a car seat in front of an airbag
- Always buy car seats new. A second hand seat could have disguised weaknesses from previous accidents.
- Even older kids need booster seats, to make sure the seatbelt doesn't slide up and crush their windpipe in the event of a sudden stop.
2. Reversing safely
In Australia, around one child every week is run over in a driveway. To reduce your kids' risk of being in a back-over or front-over accident:
- Make sure you can see your children while reversing
- Install an object sensor and rear-view camera together - each of these things alone is not completely effective in preventing reversing accidents
- Teach your kids to stay away from any car if you aren't standing with them
3. Door and seatbelt locks for kids
Old cars have so much more character than newer cars - but they often aren't made to deal with the demands of modern driving. Newer cars have safety features like:
- Child-locks on rear doors
- Seatbelt sensors that go off if a seat with weight on it doesn't have the belt buckled
If your car is older, and you aren't planning to upgrade, you can also buy childproof seatbelt locks that kids are not able to take off by themselves. In the event that they do open the door, they will still safely be tucked in their seat... ready to be screamed at!
4. Cargo barriers
If you regularly carry pets or luggage in the back of a station wagon or 4WD, you should have a cargo barrier fitted to protect your children's head in the event of a sudden stop. The event might not even cause a car insurance claim, but may cause serious injury to your kids if something hits them in the back of the head.
5. Behavioural strategies for safe driving with kids
Kids don't like being cooped up in cars. Do the following to reduce the stress, and the chance of having to put in a car insurance claim:
- Give them plenty of distractions from the boredom of being in the car
- Take regular breaks from long trips
- If you don't have air conditioning, give your kids wet towels and open the windows.
- Alternate your music with kids' music
1. Car seat watchpoints
There is a lot of misunderstanding and confusion surrounding the best practices for children and car seats. Here is a summary:
- Children should have at least a three-point harness from birth until they weigh 20 kilos or are three years old
- Car seats should be rear-ward facing before six months - but the longer the better
- Never place a car seat in front of an airbag
- Always buy car seats new. A second hand seat could have disguised weaknesses from previous accidents.
- Even older kids need booster seats, to make sure the seatbelt doesn't slide up and crush their windpipe in the event of a sudden stop.
2. Reversing safely
In Australia, around one child every week is run over in a driveway. To reduce your kids' risk of being in a back-over or front-over accident:
- Make sure you can see your children while reversing
- Install an object sensor and rear-view camera together - each of these things alone is not completely effective in preventing reversing accidents
- Teach your kids to stay away from any car if you aren't standing with them
3. Door and seatbelt locks for kids
Old cars have so much more character than newer cars - but they often aren't made to deal with the demands of modern driving. Newer cars have safety features like:
- Child-locks on rear doors
- Seatbelt sensors that go off if a seat with weight on it doesn't have the belt buckled
If your car is older, and you aren't planning to upgrade, you can also buy childproof seatbelt locks that kids are not able to take off by themselves. In the event that they do open the door, they will still safely be tucked in their seat... ready to be screamed at!
4. Cargo barriers
If you regularly carry pets or luggage in the back of a station wagon or 4WD, you should have a cargo barrier fitted to protect your children's head in the event of a sudden stop. The event might not even cause a car insurance claim, but may cause serious injury to your kids if something hits them in the back of the head.
5. Behavioural strategies for safe driving with kids
Kids don't like being cooped up in cars. Do the following to reduce the stress, and the chance of having to put in a car insurance claim:
- Give them plenty of distractions from the boredom of being in the car
- Take regular breaks from long trips
- If you don't have air conditioning, give your kids wet towels and open the windows.
- Alternate your music with kids' music
Youi offers tailor-made car insurance that could save you lots of money. At Youi we ask the right questions so that you don't pay for car insurance you don't need. You interested? Go to youi.com.au for a smarter way of doing Car Insurance.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Hugo_Shreuder
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Hugo_Shreuder
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