One of any parent’s worst fears is dealing with the loss of a child. With that in mind, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention lists car accidents as one of the leading causes of death among children. Fortunately, parents in Oklahoma can prevent this from happening by learning how to drive safely with children in their vehicles. Here are a few tips to keep in mind to prevent childhood deaths resulting from automobile accidents.
Use car seats or booster seats
One of the leading causes of childhood fatalities is an unrestrained child. If you have infant or toddler passengers, make sure they’re in car seats. Children between the ages of 4 and 8 should ride in booster seats. Also, make sure younger children ride in the backseat of your vehicle, as it is the safest place for younger passengers to sit in a car.
Properly using seatbelts
Older children might not need booster seats or car seats. However, they should obviously wear a seatbelt while riding in a car. Unfortunately, some children who aren’t used to seatbelts might adjust the position of this item. However, doing this can drastically reduce a seatbelt’s effectiveness during car accidents. So, make sure you teach your child how to wear their seatbelt properly.
Drive a safe automobile
No child should be in a dangerous vehicle. Prevent this situation from happening by regularly taking your vehicle to a mechanic for a check-up. The price you’ll pay to drive a safe car is nothing compared to the peace of mind you’ll gain.
As you get behind the wheel with your children, make sure to practice what you preach. Driving safely is a great way to raise teenagers that drive carefully.
