Important Child Passenger Safety Tips
Driving affords drivers several luxuries that, in today’s world, we can’t live without. But, convenience and independence come at the price of our safety. Driving is a very dangerous activity that claims the lives of many people year after year. In fact, many children are often the victims of vehicle related accidents. According the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), vehicle crashes are one of the leading causes of death in children under 13. Between 2013 and 2017 there were 3,313 child deaths in vehicle related accidents and 37% of these deaths were the result of children not being buckled. The NHTSA has established Child Passenger Safety Week to take place from September 15th – 21st every year to highlight the importance of keeping your younger passengers safe while on the road. It’s never too late to provide a safer driving experience for you and your child passengers and Toyota of Clermont is here with some child passenger safety tips.
Keeping Your Little Ones Safe While Driving
Child passenger safety tips are not to be taken lightly. Driving is a very dangerous activity and no matter how many advanced safety features are available on Clermont Toyota vehicles, it’s on you to take the extra steps necessary to protect your children from a potential accident. Here are some essential tips you should always keep in mind to ensure child passenger safety:
1) ALWAYS Use a Car Seat
This should be a given, but some drivers forget this crucial first step. Car seats are designed to keep your children not only restrained, but also in the safest position possible when driving. They are tested for impact and motion to ensure that your child is protected.
2) Make Sure It’s Installed Correctly
Car seats can be difficult to navigate around, but you need to spend the time to make sure your child’s seat is installed correctly. Pay attention to the included directions and check it periodically to make sure it still fits correctly in the seat. Never install your child’s car seat in the middle of the back seats. You can always take advantage of community resources like having a certified child passenger safety technician check your car seat for correct installation.
3) Pick the Right Car Seat for Your Child
To ensure child passenger safety in your Clermont Toyota car, make sure you select the right type of seat to fit your child during their respective lift stage. There are a variety of car seats available to use in your Clermont Toyota vehicle that all provide various seating types designed for children at different stages in their lives. Rear-facing seats are typically used for small children, front-facing for older children, booster seats come next, and eventually only a seat belt is required.
4) Register Your Car Seat
At Toyota of Clermont, we strongly recommend having your car seat registered. Registering your child’s seat with the manufacturer helps provide you with essential information like proper assembly, recall info, and warranties. Make sure to do this shortly after you purchase your child a car seat.
Ensuring child passenger safety falls on you as the driver and you need to always make sure your smaller passengers are protected when they join you on the road. For more tips, give Toyota of Clermont a call at (352) 404 – 7000 and/or check out the NHTSA’s website on child passenger safety.