The safety of our kids is always our first concern as parents, especially when it comes to the road. Unfortunately road accidents are a leading cause of death in children and young people, and while it’s something thats hard to think about it’s worth putting some measures in place to prevent becoming a statistic. So whether it's a quick trip to the shops or a lengthy family road trip put safety first. Maybe you’re a new parent or just need a refresher, but here are just a few things to consider.
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Buckle Up Properly
One of the most important safety measures you can take is making sure that your children are properly buckled up and are seated in age appropriate car seats or seat belts. These are based on height and weight, so if it’s been a while since you checked your child’s seat then this could be something to look into to make sure they’ve not outgrown it. Rear facing car seats should always be used for babies and toddlers up to fifteen months old, but you don't have to turn them round after this. Road safety tests and crash tests consistently show that rear facing is safest and extended rear facing can be done until your children are well into primary school if you want to. It could quite literally save their life if you’re involved in an accident so something well worth thinking about and checking out the research. And make sure they’re buckled up every time with straps fully tightened, even if you’re only going to be in the car a few minutes. Car seats can be expensive but you can get your Nuna new coupon codes and deals here to save some money.
No Eating in the Car
If your child is eating in the car and starts to choke, not only could they choke silently leaving you completely unaware but it could also lead to you having to drive erratically to safety to help them It can be hard to resist when giving them a snack gives you ten minutes of peace while you’re driving but it’s dangerous- think twice before doing this!
Plan Ahead
Before hitting the road, it’s always worth planning your trip. If the weather or traffic is bad, are there ways to avoid this, could you set off earlier or take a different route? Having some breakdown cover in place is important too, you might have something like this included when you bought your car like the Jaguar assistance programme. Otherwise, arrange some cover so that you can quickly be recovered if you break down and aren't stuck by the side of the road with kids with you.
Secure Loose Items
We all know how children love bringing their favourite toys and belongings on car rides. However, loose items can become projectiles in sudden stops or collisions and cause severe injuries. So always stick with soft items only, avoid giving them tablets to watch or hard toys to hold onto in case of a collision.
Stay Attentive and Vigilant
Children can be unpredictable, even when they’re buckled into a car seat. So it's crucial to stay alert at all times, keep an eye on them to make sure they don't unbuckle themselves, choke, become sick or anything else that could be a problem while the car is moving. Avoid turning around or reaching for objects while driving and instead pull over to a safe spot.
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