While no one ever wants to be in a car accident, what can make this situation much worse is if you have precious cargo in your car, namely your own children. Luckily, in most cases, there are things that you can do before you even get on the road that can help increase the chances of you and your passengers staying safe in the event that you do get in a car accident.
To show you just what these things are, here are three ways to keep your kids safe in the event of a car accident.
Pick The Right Vehicle In The First Place
To give you and your kids the best chance of surviving a car accident, even one that’s very major, you’ll first want to look at the kind of car you’re driving.
Thanks to modern technology, today’s cars are much safer than those many people were driving even just a few years ago. To ensure that you’re driving the safest possible car for you and your children, Jamie Page Deaton, a contributor to U.S. News and World Report, recommends that you look at things like crash test ratings and available safety features before you make a buying decision. With this information, you’ll be able to find the safest car within your price range.
Keep Your Car Organized
Another thing you can do to protect your kids and other passengers in the event that you get in a car accident is to keep your car as clean and organized as possible.
According to Michelle Naranjo, a contributor to Consumer Reports, anything in your car that isn’t secure will quickly become a projectile when you get into a car accident. The force of your car being hit or you hitting something with your car can send items flying, sometimes causing more harm or damage than the actual car accident. So to best keep your kids safe, try to keep the clutter and debris to a minimum. And with the items that you do need to have in the car, try to find a safe way to secure them before hitting the road.
Seat Your Kids In The Right Restraints
For your little kids, the safest place for them to be when in the car is in the backseat. In addition to this, you also want to ensure that they’re using the right restraints and car seats for their size.
SafeKids.org shares that kids need to be in booster seats until they’re at least 57 inches tall and over 80 pounds. While this might not be fun for your older kids, it’s going to be the best way to keep them safe.
If you want to do your best to keep your kids safe when it the car, consider using the tips mentioned above to learn what to do each time you get on the road with your little ones in tow.