{"id":18307,"date":"2021-10-08T19:03:33","date_gmt":"2021-10-08T19:03:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.etags.com\/blog\/?page_id=18307"},"modified":"2021-10-08T19:03:33","modified_gmt":"2021-10-08T19:03:33","slug":"driving-safety-for-parents-with-young-children-and-babies","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.etags.com\/blog\/driving-safety-guide\/driving-safety-for-parents-with-young-children-and-babies\/","title":{"rendered":"Driving Safety For Parents With Young Children And Babies"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Most families today rely on their car or SUV to get them through the day. Driving is how parents with small kids get their children to school, drop them off at soccer practice, make it to their doctors\u2019 appointments, visit grandparents and more. Children can get around on their own yet, so parents take on all the responsibility of all the coming and going. For many parents, driving their children around feels like a part-time job. You\u2019ve probably heard the expression Mom Taxi!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How much time do you spend shuttling the kids around?<\/span><\/strong>
Americans spend a whopping 84 billion hours driving each year, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation. Families with young children tend to spend the most time in a vehicle A recent study by Spanish car manufacturer Seat found parents spend 96 hours a year just getting the kids ready, out of the house, and into a car twice a day. Back in 2017, a ride service for youth company published a survey revealing that 40% of the 1,000-plus parents surveyed spent over 5 hours a week driving their kids around, and a third spent more than 10 hours!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Collectively, the nation drives 84 billion hours a year<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Every year, car accidents kill 600 children and injure over 121,000 others<\/span><\/strong>
Driving safety while children are in the vehicle is crucial. Both the CDC and NHTSA say motor vehicle accidents including car crashes, plus bike and pedestrian accidents are the number one cause of death among babies, young children, and teens. Every day in the U.S. where there\u2019s 4.12 million miles of road, car accidents kill 1 to 2 children and injure 340 others.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Buckling up is crucial, even in an SUV<\/span><\/strong>
American families tend to feel safer in registered SUVs and crossovers<\/a>. In fact, these sports utility vehicles are the best-selling models these days. According to 2020 statistics Edmonds, the Honda CRV and the Toyota RAV 4 are some of the most popular vehicles in the nation. And according to Motor Intelligence U.S., of the 20 top-selling vehicles of 2020 vehicles, 11 were crossovers or SUVs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The SUV is more dangerous than you think<\/span><\/strong>
But it\u2019s important to note: About 35% of children under 13 years old who are killed in car accidents are unrestrained. And those types of crashes tend to involve SUVs and pickup trucks. Families may have more visibility and feel more protected in SUVs and crossovers thanks to their sizes, but let\u2019s not forget driving safety best practices. Buckle up!
SEE ALSO: DRIVING GUIDE FOR PREGNANT WOMEN<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The NHTSA estimates about 260 lives saved yearly thanks to child car seats<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The booster seat is the final transition out of car seats<\/span><\/strong>
The right car seat is one of the first concerns for parents with young children. There are plenty of informational articles on how to choose the best seat for your kid\u2019s age online. There\u2019s a variety of car seat options, each maximizing children safety based on age, height, and weight. These include rear-facing, forward-facing, and booster seats for kids over five years old. Some parents forget to register their car seat with the manufacturer, but it can be a helpful tool for any recall issues. Make sure to use all of the car seat\u2019s straps, latches, and buckles available to you for your children\u2019s full protection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Booster seats can elevate children enough so that, if a car crash happens, they aren\u2019t slipping out from under the seatbelt or being catapulted over the top of it<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What parents can do as drivers<\/span><\/strong>
Shuttling the kids around is no easy feat! Besides getting them from point A to point B, moms and dads have to deal with boredom, sibling rivalry, hungry babies and more from the back seat. Driving safety for parents means to always drive defensively, anticipate and never give into distracted driving.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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No tailgating<\/span><\/strong>
As parents, you know that not leaving enough space between your vehicle and other motorists on the road can be a recipe for disaster. Always leave a minimum gap of at least two seconds between your family car and the vehicle in front of you. A rule of thump? If you can read the next vehicle\u2019s license plate, you\u2019re definitely too close for comfort.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Never leave kids in the car when it\u2019s hot out; heatstroke is the leading cause of non-crash, vehicle-related deaths for children under the age of 14<\/p>\n\n\n\n

No distractions, no multi-tasking behind the wheel<\/span><\/strong>
No talking on the phone, no texting, or scrolling though social media feeds when driving with children around, or any time for that matter. No snacking for you or fiddling with the car\u2019s radio and GPS. The only thing to focus on is the road; its weather conditions, its traffic signs, its various types of motorists and the like.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kids under 13 years old should always sit in the back seat since if an airbag deploys, they\u2019re more likely to get hurt<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Children are the most at risk for backover car accidents, so even when you\u2019re in your own driveway, make sure you\u2019re not distracted as you head out. Before backing out of your driveway or a parking spot, always look around for nearby children. Rolling down your windows will help you hear them too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Be a good role model<\/span><\/strong>
Children learn by example, so aside from teaching them to look both ways show them by practicing it with them. Go out together, show them how to obey traffic signals such as waiting patiently by the crosswalk. No weaving in and out of lanes in front of the kids, never go over the speed limit, and always make sure you use your turn signals. Watching and observing you drive will help make your children responsible in the future, when they get behind the wheel for the first time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

No aggressive driving or road rage in front of the kids! No excessive honking, don\u2019t block intersections, and never get out of the car to confront anyone. You don\u2019t want them to learn any bad habits, so if another driver is tailgating you or displaying inappropriate behavior, don\u2019t get confrontational. Just move on!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Drive a vehicle with security features
<\/span><\/strong>Today\u2019s new minivan, SUV and crossover models come with plenty of child security features. Child safety locks for example all parents to control the rear door locks so children are safely locked in, and van doors can\u2019t open. Backup cameras allow the driver to get a wider view of what\u2019s going on behind them to help prevent driveway collisions, parking lot accidents and children backover accidents. Automatic door locks stop vehicle doors from opening while the vehicle is moving.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Each year, 210 backover crashes cause 210 fatalities and 15,000 injuries<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Beware of seat belt entanglement<\/span><\/strong>
Boredom can easily happen on long drives, which can cause children to play round with their seat belt. If they pull the belt out entirely they can lock its retractor and accidentally get wrapped up in the belt; around their neck and head. Have frequent conversations with children explaining the importance of a seat belt. It keeps them safe and protected in their car seat, and that it\u2019s not a toy.  <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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