CHILD SAFETY

Automotive Repair Specialists since 1973 in Eugene & Springfield Oregon.

 

Child Safety in the Car

We all know (at least we should by now) how important it is to use well-secured car seat for children under 40 pounds. What we don’t hear about much is the danger of objects lying in the back of our vehicle. This is particularly a problem with minivans, station wagons and SUVs. If you’re going 45 miles an hour and hit something fairly solid, your car will stop, but everything loose in the car will still be going 45 miles an hour and can be dangerous projectiles that can hit the child in the head.

Another danger is pets. In the event of an accident an animal can become panicked and severely scratch a child.

A Philadelphia-based research project, Partners for Child Passenger Safety says that 15% of kids in a collision come into contact with things inside the car. These include loose objects, other occupants, even dogs. (Parents Magazine April 2001)

Use of a safety net or other means of securing loose objects and keeping pets out of the rear of the vehicle is one more thing we can do to protect our little ones.

 

When should you replace your child’s seat?

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, child safety seats should be replaced after a moderate or severe crash. In order to qualify as a minor crash, were the seat does not need to be replaced, the crash must meet ALL of the following criteria: the vehicle was able to be driven after the crash; the vehicle door nearest the child safety seat was not damaged; the vehicle occupants did not sustain any injuries; the air bags did not deploy; and there was no visible damage to the child safety seat.

Many insurance companies will replace a child safety seat that has been involved in a crash, so be sure to check.