Fall is here, and each October brings National Car Safety Month.
Canadians are urged to “look down the road” literally and symbolically to address safety needs before they occur. This October, much of the focus will be on children.
“There is no greater act of looking down the road than thinking of your children and their vehicle safety needs,” said Patty Kettles, manager of marketing and communications for Be Car Care Aware.
Here are some common sense tips to consider.
Protect children
Even a slow speed crash can cause severe injury or even death to children if they are not properly restrained. To ensure a child’s safety, Be Car Care Aware urges adults to follow these simple steps regarding child safety seats:
– properly install your child seats;
– ensure harness straps fit snugly around the child’s body;
– a rear-facing infant seat should never be installed in a seating position equipped with an air bag;
– Canadian law says the forward-facing child restraint must be secured to the vehicle frame using the tether strap at the top of the seat;
– booster seats are required for children under the age of eight or who weigh between 18 to 36 kg (40 to 80 pounds) or who stand less than 145 cm (4 feet 9 inches) tall;
– a child can start using a seatbelt alone once any one of the following criteria is met: the child turns 8 years old; the child weighs 36 kg (80 pounds); or the child is 145 cm (4 feet 9 inches) tall;
– children 12 and under should be properly restrained in the back seat, especially if there is a passenger-side air bag;
– finally, always set a good example and make sure everyone in the car wears a seat belt.
For safer teenaged drivers, consider these tips before handing over the keys.
Results from consumer research conducted by Be Car Care Aware clearly shows today’s youth are neglecting their vehicles, posing a safety threat to not only themselves, but others on the road.
Today’s driving youth (18 to 24 years) are less likely than more experienced drivers to change their oil regularly and one-in-five have no idea when to change their oil at all.
Only 45 per cent of youths bring their vehicle in for maintenance at least once a year versus 76 per cent of people over 50. Ten per cent of young drivers reported that they never put air in their tires and nine per cent admitted they do not know how to determine the correct tire pressure.
Those data identify an urgent need for parents to educate the young drivers in their house about the need for regular vehicle maintenance.
“Vehicle maintenance and repair is like algebra”, said Kettles. “We’re not born knowing it, it has to be learned. It is important that we teach young drivers the basics about their cars before they get the keys.”
Adults who do not know much about automotive maintenance and repair, can do themselves a favour and learn it along with their kids. Here are a few tips:
– explain that all cars, new and old, need regular attention. Make sure young drivers know and follows the maintenance schedule for the car. Preventive maintenance increases safety and saves money;
– remember the owner’s manual. That automotive tool is full of information about the car;
– take them to the repair facility, the tire store, the body shop and wherever one gets automotive work performed. Get them accustomed to the automotive world, its people, places, jargon and prices; and
– make a plan. What happens if the car breaks down or there is an accident, or the car gets stolen? What if no adults are home to receive the panic call?
For many parents, driving age is the final frontier. Certainly it is an important rite of passage for teenagers. Do not let children pass into that stage of life without being prepared. Take the time and the necessary materials to make young drivers feel competent.
