Vehicle Safety for Children and Passengers
Proper Safety for Children
The first and most important part of keeping a child safe are dependent on where the child is seated while the vehicle is in motion. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the use of proper car seats, booster seats and seatbelts helped makes a lifesaving difference in the millions of car accidents that occur each year. The location of the child is also important. An airbag going off can kill or severely injure a child; the CDC recommends properly securing all children under the age of 12 in the back seat. Knowing the proper safety equipment for your child’s age can make a difference. Age isn’t always the best indicator for the type of safety equipment. Some children are larger or smaller for their age and this should be taken into consideration when choosing equipment.
Best Vehicles for Safety
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety releases a list of the top safety vehicles each year. The IIHS gets their results through vehicle testing to determine safety from various types of crashes. The vehicles are scrutinized based on how well they protect the occupants after a crash and what technology is present to prevent damage and injury. The IIHS found that larger vehicles did the best overall regarding safety for passengers because of the larger frames and more safety features such as airbags on the doors and seats themselves. The IIHS has a complete list of the safest crash tested vehicles for each year.
Tips for Safer Driving
Here are some general safety tips for drivers and their passengers to help increase safety while driving.
- Keep your cellphone away from you while driving. Over 25% of all crashes were caused by distracted drivers; that is roughly 1.3 million crashes a year.
- Stay focused while driving. Being aware of your surroundings and drivers nearby is essential to preventing an accident.
- Never assume. Accidents occur when a driver assumes someone else is going to do something or should do something but doesn’t. It is better to be cautious and understand everyone won’t react how you expect them to.
