Being a parent is one of the most difficult, and most rewarding, jobs in the world. It’s even more difficult if you’re a single parent. Fortunately, there are steps you can take to make the job easier on you and your child. That includes the trip to school!
Among all age groups, children ages 4-7 have the highest rates of injury in car crashes. Avoid distractions by planning your route before you start driving so that you’ll know where you’re going and what’s near where you’re going, moreover make use of best baby car seats in NZ to keep your small kids safe in the car. This will also enable you to plan out places where kids can stop for restroom breaks and snacks along the way.
- Tunes down
Distracted driving can cause accidents and injuries and distracts drivers from their primary responsibility – operating their vehicle on the road safely. Turn off the music and keep the cell phone calls short.
- Wear your seat belt
Always wear your seat belt, even when sitting in the back seat. Statistics show that children 12 years old or younger are three times more likely to be seriously injured or killed in a crash if they are not buckled up when riding in a car with an unbelted driver or passenger.3. Child restraints required
Use your car’s safety features. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration recommends that every family travel with infants and small children in an appropriate-sized child safety seat, booster seat or seat belt for their age, height and weight. Check your state’s child passenger safety laws to find out what requirements your state has regarding car seats and booster seats.
If you ever have any concerns about your car’s seat belt after an accident, a Seat Belt Repair Company can help you save money without sacrificing quality.
- Restrain your kids correctly
Children younger than 13 should ride in the back seat at all times, buckled into a car safety seat or booster seat. Children over age 13 should be buckled into a safety belt in the back seat.
Be mindful of distractions behind the wheel
Limit distractions while driving to keep your eyes on the road and off phones or other devices that could cause you to lose focus on the task at hand — driving safely with kids in tow!
- Toss out all distractions
Put down your phone and focus on driving. Even hands-free devices pose a risk; in fact, talking to someone on the phone has been shown to slow reaction time even more than driving drunk. Make sure everyone buckles up — every trip, every time. Kids should be properly secured in their car seats until they’re at least 8 years old, and everyone should wear seat belts for optimal safety. Teach kids about road safety early on. You can start with something as simple as driving down the block with your child buckled in a booster seat.
- Tethers
Every year, children are thrown from car windows and killed or injured because they weren’t properly buckled in. To keep this from happening, make sure that your child is always strapped into his or her seat with a five-point harness when riding in the car. If your child’s car seat doesn’t have a harness, get one that does.
Children should be placed in the back seat until they’re 12 years old for maximum safety. It’s also important to check the vehicle’s manual about where the seatbelts are located and make sure that your child’s car seat can fit safely and snugly.
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