Keeping Your Children Safe In and Around Cars

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It is estimated that an automobile accident occurs in the United States every sixty seconds, and of the
millions of crashes that occur each year, approximately 40,000 will result in fatality (according to the
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, or NHTSA). If you don’t find these statistics alarming,
perhaps it is because you are a recluse or you prefer public transportation. But anyone who drives a car
regularly is probably keen to check the safety features on their vehicle right about now. And if you have
kids, safety in and around cars becomes even more imperative. So here are just a few tips for parents
out there looking for some peace of mind.

1. Child seats. This is the first and most important tool in your arsenal when it comes to protecting
your child from harm while in a vehicle. You might think that at a certain age it is okay to let
your child ride without a seat, but in fact, most specifications are based on weight, not age. And
while your state has regulations that will tell you when it is legally safe to allow your child out of
a car seat, you should check standards for other states and follow the strictest rules in order to
ensure the best protection for your child.

2. Trunk release. While it is not terribly common for kids to become trapped in a trunk, it’s not
entirely unheard of, either. So warn your kids about the perils of getting into the trunk while
you’re not looking and make sure that they know where the trunk release latch is in case they
do become trapped. If your car has no release from the inside, show your kids how to get
through the back seat or simply check the trunk before you close it.

3. Child-lock doors and windows. Not every car comes with these safety features, but if yours does
you should definitely use them. You can make sure that your kids know how dangerous it is to
open a door into traffic or hang any part of themselves out a window, but that doesn’t mean
they won’t do stupid things once in a while. Child locks will ensure that the doors stay securely
closed until you open them from the outside and that the rear windows never open far enough
to allow your child to get out.

4. Parental presence. Every year parents stupidly leave small children in the car while running
errands only to come back and find that their precious little bundles of joy have suffocated
or suffered a heat stroke. What possesses people to do this?! Ignorance perhaps, or simple
neglect. But it is a situation that is made totally moot with a little common sense. The simple
rule of thumb is: never allow children in or around the car without parental supervision. If
you’re not there, the kids can’t be, either.

5. Informed children. As your kids get older, they may start to wander outside of the house
or even walk places on their own (school, the park, nearby homes of friends, etc.). This can
be nerve-wracking for a concerned parent. But your baby birds are going to leave the nest
eventually, so it behooves you to make sure they practice proper safety when automobiles
are present. This means looking both ways before crossing the street and always looking into
driveways and alleys to make sure that cars aren’t coming out or going in.Evan Fischer writes for www.VirginiaDUIDefense.com, where you can find a Fairfax DUI Attorney and
consult with a team of experienced professionals.