Children should learn about the importance of car safety from a very young age. If they understand why and how safety measures are important to protect the family, they’ll want to help keep themselves and others safe. Approach car safety by explaining its importance using words and concepts that are understandable by all ages. Learn more about these five car safety lessons to teach your kids.
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Always Wear Seat Belts
Explain to kids that seat belts are essential to wear, no matter how short of a ride you’re taking. Buckling up should be the first thing you do when you get into a car, making it something you always do. You won’t forget, and it will become a good habit. Most seat belts have two parts, a lap belt that fits snugly above your hips and a shoulder belt that will fit snugly across your chest and shoulder. Both parts have one buckle that needs to be locked.
Seat belts keep everyone safe by keeping them in place if there’s an accident or the driver needs to stop in a hurry. You may notice the shoulder strap locks tight during a fast stop. That’s how seat belts help you move but keep you in place when they need to.
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Use Booster Seats
Encourage booster seat use by explaining why they are needed for safety’s sake. Booster seats are needed to boost kids so they don’t fall out of their seat belts or get hurt by the shoulder belt at the wrong angle. Booster seats are used once kids outgrow car seats and should be used until between ages 8 and 12, depending on their height.
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Don’t Pester the Driver
Explain that it’s okay to talk and ask questions, but it’s not okay to distract the driver. The driver needs to pay attention to the critical job of driving. Being loud, arguing, or asking the driver to look at something besides the road can make the trip unsafe.
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Don’t Touch the Door Handles or Window Controls
Show that door handles and window controls can cause accidents if they are pushed or pulled. Don’t touch the door handles or window controls unless an adult says it’s OK because the door may pop open or the window could go up and down, pinching somebody. Never put your hands or head out the window or throw anything out the window.
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Stay Safer in the Back Seat
Explain that the back seat is the safest place for kids, and there’s also more room for books, games, and other fun things. Kids age 12 and under should not sit in the front seat. Explain that air bags are designed to protect adults from accidents but are dangerous for kids. Air bags quickly burst out of the steering wheel and dashboard, inflating like large balloons to protect adults from a crash.
Explaining why kids should obey car safety measures to keep themselves and everybody else in the car safe will encourage them to follow the road rules. Explain the simple safety steps and reasons why we all should follow them to keep your family safer and make car trips easier.
Image courtesy of Pixabay.com
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