TRANSPORTING CHILDREN -CAR SAFETY
Car accidents are the leading cause of death among children. If you use your car to transport children, here is some information you need to know:
Always have written permission from parents to transport their child. That written permission should state specifically where and when you are allowed to transport the child. It should be dated and signed by the parent.
Many accidents happen within a few miles of home. Many accidents involving children actually occur on local, residential roads during a routine trip to and from child care to home, the grocery store, or the neighborhood park. That’s why it’s critical to take all the same precautions for a short drive that you’d take for a long one.
ALWAYS BUCKLE UP CHILDREN no matter how near or far you’re going. Never forget to use your own seat belt. Kids watch everything that you do, so it’s important that you set the right example.
Preschoolers and school age children are more at risk than babies and toddlers. According to National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), Children between ages four and eight are more likely to be injured in a car than children under the age of four. That may be because adults tend to slack off about car safety as children get older. Only twenty percent of children between four and eight ride in booster seats, as safety experts recommend. Children are safest in the backseat, where they are farthest away from the impact point of a frontal crash. Therefore it is important that you always transport children in the proper size car seat for their age and/or weight.
SUV’s don’t keep children safer. You might think that driving a big, high vehicle insulates you from roadway dangers, but in general test car crashes show that SUV’s are no safer than ordinary sedans. They’re more likely to roll over, especially in a single vehicle accident where a truck trips over a guardrail or flips during a fast turn.
Larger lower vehicles (like station wagons) tend to be safer. Experts suggest when transporting children in an SUV you should get one equipped with electronic stability or anti-roll control, designed to keep the vehicle from flipping over. Also don’t assume four-wheel drive will keep children any safer either.
A car doesn’t have to be moving in order to be dangerous. Your car is not going to be involved in a three -car pile-up while in the driveway but parked cars can also be very dangerous. However, many are killed each year in non-traffic automobile accidents. Some children are strangled by a window when they’re leaning out and someone else activates the power switch. Other children are injured by somehow releasing the emergency brake and rolling into oncoming traffic.
If you transport your children to and from your childcare, always have a system of check list that checks off children as you drop them off. Make sure you always check your vehicle when you get home. Tragically, children die each year when they are left in a car and suffocate from overheating.
CHILDREN SHOULD NEVER, EVER BE LEFT ALONE IN A CAR.
Children don’t need to be inside a car to be hurt by one. Children under the age of 15 are killed each year when they’re hit by a car. So, it’s very important to remain vigilant. No matter how many times you warn children to stay away from the street and to hold hands when walking on the sidewalk or through a parking lot, you still need to supervise closely. Even in places where you assume they are safe, like your driveway for instance, always be aware of where the children are when someone is backing up. Especially during pick up and drop off time at your childcare. Make sure children are kept in a secure area where they will not be able to run into the driveway. It may be a good idea to send a newsletter out to parents telling them where they can park and to be careful of other families during pick up and drop off time.
Here are some safety tips from National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA):
Teach children not to play in or around cars.
Supervise children carefully when in and around vehicles.
Be aware of small children-the smaller a child, the more likely it is you will not see them.
Teach children to move away from a vehicle when a driver gets in it or if the car is started.
Have children in the area stand to the side of the driveway or sidewalk so they can be seen by someone backing out of a driveway or parking space.
Make sure to look behind you while backing up slowly in case a child dashes behind your vehicle unexpectedly.
Roll down your windows while backing out of your driveway or parking space so that you’ll be able to hear what is happening outside of your vehicle.
Teach your children to keep their toys and bikes out of the driveway.
Because kids can move unpredictable, you should actively check your mirrors while backing up.
Many cars are equipped with detection devices that provide rearview video or warning sounds, but they cannot completely take the place of actively walking around your car to make sure children are safely out of the way. Do not rely solely on these devices to detect what is behind your vehicle.
Resources
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Parent Central / Keeping Kids Safe.
Safecar
Www.safecar.gov