CHILD SAFETY IN THE CAR

It goes without saying but the safety of everyone who travels in your car is vital, particularly when there are children among your passengers.

Car safety features are becoming increasingly more sophisticated, and many are dedicated specifically to protecting young occupants. Improved technology and fixtures can go a very long way towards keeping any young travellers safe, but there are also several things you can do that will help too.

A child in the front passenger seat

If you have a baby or toddler secured in the front passenger position with a rear-facing child seat, always make sure that the relevant airbag is disabled. The activation of this particular safety feature could actually cause more harm than good if the child’s head is too close it. If you have the child seat facing forward, ensure that the passenger seat is set as far back as possible.

Child safety seat attachments

ISOFIX child-seat fixtures are a welcome addition to any car and are becoming the standard for attachment points. However, many older vehicles may not have ISOFIX anchor points. Therefore, it is important to consult the relevant manufacturer handbook to check whether your seat is compatible or not.

Stay vigilant

As children grow beyond the toddler stage, they need to be secured using a booster seat (if they are less than 1.35 metres tall and under the age of 12). Then they progress to standard seatbelts. Of course, kids being kids, they are apt to get bored and/or absent-mindedly fidget so always keep half an eye on them to ensure they don’t unfasten their seatbelt during a trip.

These are very simple tips that will help to ensure that journeys with children on board occur safely and without incident. If you have any questions about issues raised in this article please don’t hesitate to get in contact with us.

Our extensive used car range includes many child-friendly models, and we are more than happy to assist you in making an informed choice. Please browse our website for more helpful tips that will make each and every car journey as stress-free and enjoyable as possible.