Parents looking for new ways to keep their children safe can take some tips from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). There is a new booklet available to help parents understand and use the latest safety features that are offered on today’s vehicles. “A Parent’s Guide to Playing It Safe with Kids and Cars” explains how to keep kids safe while they’re in the car with Mom and Dad, and even when they’re in the car alone and are not supposed to be.
Some of the safety elements addressed in the new booklet include automatic door locks, push-down and pull-up windows, a trunk release from inside, rearview cameras, air bags and anti-pinch windows with an auto-reverse feature. There are also suggestions on how to choose the right car seat for children, finding the right fit and installing it properly.
Even when using Texas defensive driving skills, there are still some inherent dangers to kids when cars are involved. For example, NHTSA cited seat belt entanglement, heatstroke, rollaway and backover dangers. It is important that children should not be left alone in an unattended vehicle on a hot day, even if the windows are cracked. It’s the Number 1 cause of vehicle-related deaths for kids under the age of 14.
The government agency recommends that children under the age of 12 be kept in the back seat to avoid air bag dangers, and little ones should always ride in car seats, even if it’s just a short trip around the block.
The free download of “A Parent’s Guide to Playing It Safe with Kids and Cars” is available at NHTSA’s website, safercar.gov.
