During the first week of June, we celebrate Child Safety Week! This year, we’re focusing on ways to keep children safe in and around cars. According to AAA, Americans drive an average of 11,498 miles per year, which is about the distance of two roundtrips from San Francisco to Washington, DC. Of course, most children spend a good amount of time in the car, whether it’s to and from school, a quick trip down the street for a playdate, or a long road trip for an annual family vacation. That’s why we’re sharing three ways you can celebrate child safety week!
1. Make sure your children are using the correct car seats and booster seats.
Did you know that car crashes are the leading cause of death for children ages 1 to 13? That’s why it’s so important that children are seated properly in the car. Children should remain in rear-facing car seats as long as possible. Once they outgrow the top height or weight limit allowed by the car seat’s manufacturer, they can be moved to a forward-facing car seat. Children should remain in the forward-facing car seat until they outgrow the height or weight limits for that seat. Then, the child should sit in a booster seat until they are big enough to fit in a seat belt properly.
The safest place in the car for children is the back seat.
2. Establish some rules for car rides.
Distracted driving killed 2,841 people in the US in 2018. Children can be a distraction to the driver, which can be dangerous. It may be helpful to establish a firm set of rules children must follow while in the car. As drivers, it’s our job to minimize distractions while on the road. If you’re constantly turning around in your seat to pick up your child’s dropped toy, your attention is not on the road.
The rules you establish will depend on your own family’s needs. Some families may designate an older child to keep an eye on the younger one’s needs while on the road. One parent may decide to sit in the back seat with the children while the other parent drives. Maybe your child is allowed to have some extra screen time on long trips. Do whatever works for your family. You can let your children know that distracting driving is dangerous, and ask them to only interrupt the driver in an emergency.
3. Practice car safety with your children.
Spend a day teaching your child all about safety inside and outside of the car. The exact things you’ll discuss will depend on the age of your children. For little kids, show them how to properly sit in their car seat or booster seat. Make sure they know to never play around cars and to keep their toys away from the street. As children get older, explain to them why it’s safer for them to ride in the back seat. You could watch a video about how air bags work, and then review how to correctly wear a seat belt.
If you have teenagers at home, talk with them about the dangers of texting and driving. Remind them that any action that takes their mind and eyes off of driving is a risk. Talk to them about what they would do if they were in a car with a driver who was texting while driving.
Depending on the age of your teen, they may be able to start driver’s education! Even if the schools in your area are not offering driver’s education at this time, your child may be able to complete an online driver’s education course. Visit our website to see if we offer an online teen driver’s education course in your state!
During the first week of June, we celebrate Child Safety Week! This year, we’re focusing on ways to keep children safe in and around cars. According to AAA, Americans drive an average of 11,498 miles per year, which is about the distance of two roundtrips from San Francisco to Washington, DC. Of course, most children spend a good amount of time in the car, whether it’s to and from school, a quick trip down the street for a playdate, or a long road trip for an annual family vacation. That’s why we’re sharing three ways you can celebrate child safety week!