Well, friends, the good weather is officially upon us, and with the sunshine and longer days comes that thing we wait for all year: road trips! For some, these will be solo endeavors, for others, they are romantic getaways for couples or adventures for friends. But undoubtedly there are than a few families packing up and hitting the open roads this spring and summer.
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And so we thought we’d focus on some top safety tips for vehicles that are hauling precious cargo – children. Of course, these recommendations are for all year round, so it’s a good idea to take note if you plan on bringing a little one along with you in the car.
Top Safety Tips for Driving with Children
- Put them in the back. For small children (usually twelve years and younger), there is no safer place in a vehicle than in the back seat. From babies who don’t care where they sit up until kids who might protest, it’s in their best interest to hang out in the back during car rides.
- Seat them on a throne. Whether your child is an infant or toddler, the correct seat is uber important. Car seats and booster seats are a must to help protect our little humans far more than a seatbelt alone.
- Get the position right. Car seat positions change as kids grow. From infancy until about two to four years old, car seats should face backwards. After that, the car seat and then booster seat can face front. For a comprehensive carseat checklist in several languages, check here.
- Buckle up. This goes for everyone riding or driving a vehicle, of course, not just kids and car seats. Seatbelts save lives. And what’s more, engaged seatbelts allow air bags to deploy if necessary, so buckling up is a must.
- Avoid distraction. Surely everyone knows that texting and driving are a disastrous combination, but never is it more important to stay focused on the road when there are little humans riding along with you. Automatic text responses and hands-free talking are great ways to avoid outside interference.
- Teach them well. If your child is old enough to be taught car etiquette it can make all the difference. When kids understand that the car is not a place to throw tantrums or toys, the driving experience becomes a safer place for everyone.
- Check and recheck. When leaving the vehicle, make a note to inspect the back seat before walking away. A sleeping child can easily be forgotten if you’re in a rush, so that double-check is a great habit to make.
- Obey traffic laws. It’s never more pressing to obey speed limits, traffic lights, and stop signs than when you’ve got a little one in the car with you. Not only do you protect your own, but you consider others on the road as well.
- Watch your back. Even if you are not driving with a child, you can contribute to child safety by being really cautious while backing up. Especially if you are in a neighborhood or place with lots of kids. Stop, watch, and listen for little voices!
- Never leave them alone. A child should never be left on their own in an unattended car…for so many reasons. So even if you’re just popping into a shop for a minute, and even if you’ve locked the doors and cracked the windows – that child must come with you…no excuses!
And there are the top ten tips for child safety!
Here’s wishing you a safe and wonderful warm weather season. And remember, for all your tag and title needs, head over to etags.com, select your state from the drop-down menu, and let us lend a hand. Because as always, at eTags, we’re here to help!
