Tips on Driving Safely with Kids in the Car

Moms and dads try to do everything possible to keep their little ones from suffering unnecessarily. Most take great care to get their children properly immunized against major illnesses, and almost all parents spend a great deal of time baby proofing the home even before the new infant spends his or her first day there. Some parents, however, are not as diligent about protecting their kids when they are in the car. This can lead to tragic consequences, and the statistics show that special care is needed to prevent injuries that can be caused by parent’s not taking the proper precautions when driving with their young ones. The following actions should be taken by every parent who carries children as passengers:

Use Appropriate Car Seats

Children should always ride in the back seat of the vehicle, and their car seats should be rated for their particular age, height and weight. It never hurts for parents to attend a child restraint installation class to make sure that they always have the car seat properly installed. Parents should make sure that their children have fastened all of the safety latches on these seats before starting the vehicle. Car seats that have been in a wrecked vehicle should not be used again, so parents should be cautious about buying second-hand seats.

Lock All Exits

Most modern cars and trucks automatically engage the door locks when the vehicle begins to move. Parents who own older model cars without this feature should make it a habit to lock the doors before putting the vehicle in motion. Windows in the back of the vehicle should also be locked out so that children have no control over them.

Put Any Dangerous Objects in the Trunk

Flying objects can cause serious injuries to a child even during emergency braking. Never store heavy cans, objects with sharp points, ball bats or other sports paraphernalia in the passenger space: use the trunk instead. These items can become lethal weapons in even minor accidents.

Perform One Task at a Time

When driving, parents should eliminate all other activities. This means that the cell phone should not be answered, and texting can wait until the next stop. Eating and drinking while driving may also cause serious distractions that put the children in danger. Another unnecessary cause of accidents occurs when parents try to discipline their children while the car is in motion. It is always better to pull over and take care of any situation than to tempt fate in order to save a few minutes.

Children should never be left alone inside of any vehicle with the keys readily available. Serious accidents can occur in just seconds when kids play like they are driving. Parents should also resist the urge to let kids unbuckle their restraints for just a second in order to reach for something, change seats or take a nap. That one second could irreparably change all of their lives forever.

Jane Simpson takes the above precautions whenever she drives with kids in her car. She writes for a site that compares new car loan rates to help determine the affordability of a new family car.