Prioritise child safety when travelling
A car seat not only protects a child, but other passengers as well
MOTOR vehicle accidents remain one the leading causes of child deaths.
This was emphasised by the Road Accident Fund in Empangeni on Monday.
During a visit to Queen Nandi Hospital, road safety specialist Agnes Mahlangu said parents need to understand the importance of children’s’ safety seats
‘Firstly parents must know that travelling with their young children in the front seat is not allowed.
‘Because of their weight and size, children can suffer serious injuries if they are not secured.
‘Vehicle crashes are still claiming children’s lives at an alarming rate.
‘Children under 13 years should ride in the back seat. Front passenger airbags can cause significant injury to children and can be deadly when deployed against the back of a rear-facing child seat,’ she said.
Facts to consider
Studies have revealed child safety seats for toddlers up to age four can reduce the need for hospitalisation by 69% after a road crash.
Restraining the children and other passengers in a motor vehicle will:
• Reduce the risk of interior contact in the vehicle or reduce the severity of injuries if this occurs;
• Distribute the force of a crash over the strongest parts of the body;
• Prevent the occupant from being ejected from the vehicle on impact;
• Prevent injury to other occupants. In a frontal crash, for example, unbelted rear-seated passengers can be catapulted forward and hit other occupants.
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