Although the love a parent has for their child is undeniable, there are many times when a child can be in danger because their parents ignore some basic rules for their safety. One such circumstance is transporting them by car as many parents may not even apply safety rules for children in the car or take measures that are incomplete.
According to the British organization “Child Seat Safety”, 2 out of 3 children sit in the wrong way in the car, which compromises their safety in the event of an accident. Moreover, according to the traffic department of Spain, the difference between correct and incorrect use of a child seat can reduce the risk of an accident by 75% and the risk of injury by 90%.
In this article we will analyze what are the basic safety rules for children in the car as provided by the international standards, as well as what are the correct ways of applying them!
Use the appropriate child seat
The main factors that determine the correct choice of a child seat are age, weight and height. These three parameters combined are going to give you the full picture of what is the right choice to protect your child’s body.
Categories of child seats
Category 1: For infants up to 13 kg. This particular category of child seats is always placed facing backwards to protect the baby’s neck in the event of an accident.
Category 2: For children from 9 to 18 kg or from 9 months to 3 years. This group of seats, are also better to be placed it in the opposite direction.
Category 3: For children from 15 kg to 25 kg and from 3 to 6 years old. Those child seats can be placed in the normal direction inside the car.
Category 4: For children weighing from 22 kg to 36 kg, and from 6 to 12 years old. For tall children in this category it would be better to choose a “Booster”, which will offer them more comfort.
*Child seats should be placed backwards as much as possible. In some countries, such as Sweden, child seats are placed upside down until the age of 4.
*Many child seats belong to more than one category and are suitable for quite a long period of use.
Put the child seat properly in the car
It is important to carefully read the installation instructions for the child seat and make sure it is fitted correctly before each journey. The easiest and most convenient method is isofix. With the isofix system, the child seat becomes one with the car seat, as it is connected to it with three points of contact. If the seat requires seat belt installation, make sure the belt passes properly through the locations indicated by the manufacturer.
Put properly the safety belt on the child
Safety belts must be tight and close to the child’s body to provide maximum safety. This means that even for the shortest distances, children must take off unnecessary clothes such as puffers, but also backpacks that may be on their backs and prevent them from being properly positioned!
The safest seat for the child in the car
In general, the safest place for a child in the middle of the backseats. If you have more than one child in the car, you should know that the older one is usually the least its seat protects protected (a baby is protected by its seat that is placed backwards) that is placed backwards). Therefore, it is better for the older child to be placed in the middle seat, so that he is safer in the event of an accident!
In addition, you should not place large objects and luggage in the back seat next to your child, but also on the shelf above the luggage compartment. These objects may injure them, in case of an accident.
By reading this article, you have been informed about all the basic safety rules for a child in the car. Alpha Drive, as a company that has been active for years in car rental in Thessaloniki and Halkidiki, offers you the safest and most reliable transportation options for you and your children. By renting your car from our company, we provide you with the right seat for your child, according to their age, weight and height.
Book your car online today or call the reservations department Tel.:+30 2310447878, Mobile:+30 6944736008