Car Safety For Children

 

Accidents are the most frequent cause of death among children, and car accidents are the leading cause.

Children in a car, who are not fastened with a seat belt or who are not placed in an appropriate sized and correctly fitted child seat, may be seriously injured or even die in a car accident. 

The driver of the car is responsible for making sure that everyone is wearing their seat belts. If the car doesn't have enough seat belts for everyone – children, who are younger than three years old, must be fastened first.

0 to 3 years----->    Must use correct size child restraint (baby capsule or toddler car seat).

3 to 12 years or until 135 cm tall ----->Must use correct size child restraint.

Over 12 years or over 135 cm tall------->Must wear adult seat belt.

The child seat can be placed facing backwards in the front passenger seat. (But this only applies if the car has no passenger-side airbag or if the airbag is switched off, when the child is placed in this seat).

If your car has a passenger-side airbag that can't be switched off, your child can be placed in a child seat in the back of the car. The front seat must be moved as far back as possible. A distance of at least 20cm (10") must be left between the dashboard and the child seat, so as not to hurt your child in a head-on collision. 

In both front and back seats, your child seat must be fastened with the car's three-point seat belt carefully, following the manufacturers' instructions. Remember that a baby should not sit in a child seat for more than 20 to 30 minutes a day because the muscles in their back are not fully developed. If the baby is not carried by car every day, they may be able to manage an occasional longer trip, with regular breaks.

Children weighing 9 to 18kg can be put in approved rear-facing child seats in the front passenger seat, or rear or forward facing child seats in the rear seat. It's safer for the child to sit rear-facing.
The child seat should be fastened with the car's three-point seat belt following the fastening instructions precisely. Passenger airbag must be disabled, if using the front seat.


Get more tips for children between 4 to 12 years tomorrow.