A parent’s number one priority is their child’s health and safety. Knowing this, it’s a wonder parents ever take their children on the road with the number of car accidents and other vehicular incidents that happen on a daily basis. And although you can’t know if and when you’ll get in an accident on the road, there are things you can do to help mitigate any damage or danger you might expose your children to. So to help you with this, here are three tips for keeping your kids' safe while on the road.
Don’t Use Expired Car Seats
When your children are young, it’s imperative that they ride in a car seat that’s appropriate for their age or size. But because car seats can get expensive, many parents hope to save money by using a car seat for more than one child. However, this could be putting your child at risk. According to Emily Green, a contributor to WorkingMother.com, car seats have expiration dates because the plastic used to build the seat can degrade over time or after it’s been in an accident. So while it might cost you more money, you should never buckle your child into an expired car seat.
Strap Down Any Stored Items
Once you’ve ensured that all your children are properly seated in the right car seat for them and that that seat is accurately strapped down in your car, you should now turn your attention to everything else that’s filling up your car. In a car accident, anything that’s not tied down will now become a projectile that could seriously harm those seated in the car. Because of this, Lindsay Chancellor, a contributor to MotherhoodCenter.com, recommends that you either keep your belongings in your trunk or you strap down any items that are going to be stored within your car.
Know When Your Child’s Ready For Other Transportation
In addition to safety when in a car, you also need to make sure your child’s safe on any other form of transportation, including things like bikes or motorcycles. If you were to get in a motorcycle accident while your child’s on board, an untold amount of damage and harm could take place. So to help reduce the chances of this happening, Aaron Frank, a contributor to MotorcyclistOnline.com, shares that you should only let your child ride on a motorcycle, either with you or with someone else, if they’re tall enough to reach the passenger pegs, have the right safety equipment on, and are mature enough to know how to be a good passenger.
To help your children stay safe when traveling on the roadways, consider implementing all of the tips mentioned above.