Automobile safety is a big concern in America. There are lots of factors that come into consideration: weather, animals, and other drivers on the road. So with all of these factors it is important to know how to keep you and your passengers safe in the vehicle. Children especially need to be taken care of because at a young age they need more protection in the car. A good way to keep your child safe is to know how to properly use a car seat and make sure you have your child in the age-appropriate seat.
Age-Appropriate Seat
Do you know what type of car seat is made for your child’s age? Many people in America do not have their kids in the correct car seat. An easy way to solve this problem is to invest in a 3-in-1 car seat; they have larger weight limits so that your child is able to stay in the car seat longer. According to Car Insurance, until a baby is 12 months old they need to be in rear facing car seat. Keeping your child rear facing means that the risk of major injury in an accident goes from 40% in a front facing car seat to 8%. From 4-7 years old your child can be in a front facing car seat however it should have a harness that buckles across the chest. 8-12 is when your child should remain in a booster seat. One way to know if your child is ready to say goodbye to the booster is if he or she can have their knees bend over the seat with their back flat against the seat.
Proper Fit
Depending on the seat and child age there are a few guidelines to follow for the right fit:
Rear Facing Car Seats
- Top of the car seat needs to be at least 1” beyond the child’s head
- Straps should be no higher than the child’s shoulders
- Chest clip needs to be level with their armpits
- Harness should fit, not too loose or tight
Front Facing Car Seats
- Straps need to be adjusted to one’s shoulder or above
- Chest buckle should stay at armpit level
- Straps buckle at the lower hips
Booster Car Seats
- Strap should cross over the body at the shoulder
- The lap belt needs to sit across the lower hips
- Legs should be able to bend at the knee and not stuck out
Seat Belt Check
The most important thing you can do to protect your children is to always do a seat belt check. Taking a few extra seconds to make sure that your children are strapped in correctly is what is going to allow the car seat to work properly and having a properly working car seat is what will protect them in the case of a car crash. A tip is to turn it into a game for the whole family, a race to see who can be the first one to be all buckled up and ready to go. Making it into a game gets your children more involved and has them remembering to put on their seat belts.
Unfortunately, just because you are a safe driver does not protect you and your children from everyone else’s driving. Drivers have to be aware of the other drivers around them at all times in order to stay safe on the road. Another way to protect you from other drivers is to improve your automobile insurance. Automobile insurance protects you from financial loss if you get into an accident. From Personal Injury Protection to Comprehensive and Uninsured Motorist Coverage, Woods Insurance can assist you and your family have a safe trip on the road.
