Children of all ages need to be protected in vehicles

According to Dewald Ranft, the chairperson of the Motor Industry Workshop Association (MIWA), kids of all ages must be kept safe in cars.

“There’s a lot of emphasis on buckling babies and toddlers into their car seats, and rightly so, but keeping older children safe in the car is just as important.

“MIWA is a proud association of the Retail Motor Industry Organisation (RMI), whose priority is road safety,” explained Ranft.

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He said the public school holidays are here and if you are going somewhere in your car, you must ensure everyone is buckled up.

“What we need to understand as parents and motorists is that our vehicles travel at high speeds, and even if you aren’t involved in an accident, just applying a harsh brake can send a child not strapped in hurtling forward in the car.

“Too often, older children who sit at the back or even in front of vehicles without seat belts are likely to fool around while the car is in motion and even go as far as sticking their heads or even half of their bodies out of the window and more,” Ranft explained.

He said children were thrown through windscreens or out of side windows in countless incidents. This can result in severe head trauma or death.

“More often, when children move around in vehicles, this behaviour is deemed fun, but in reality, any moving vehicle is a risk.

“Kids in the back of a bakkie is another thing to avoid, even with the canopy on. If that bakkie rolls, the children will be thrown around in the back, and they can be severely injured,” he said.

Ranft said gone are the days when children at the back of the bakkie was acceptable.

“We travel at far faster speeds now because our vehicles are designed to do so. This even applies to smaller roads, but don’t be fooled, speed kills,” he warned.

“Educating older children on the risks of being in a car is important. They are old enough to understand, so make it a rule in your car that everyone is strapped in and sitting in the right seat before you go anywhere,” he pointed out.

He reiterated that it was essential to check the car seats were correctly secured when travelling with young children.

“Statistics show up to 70% of car seats are incorrectly installed. Parents must also ensure the seats are age-appropriate.

“Remember that children, especially toddlers, struggle to sit and not move for long hours. If you are doing a long trip with them, stop to give them a chance to stretch,” he said.

Ranft said to try picking pit stops with fun activities for children, such as jungle gyms. It will allow them to work off some energy so they don’t distract you while you drive.

“If you need advice on car seats or vehicle safety, speak to your local MIWA workshop.

“We want our roads to be a safe place for our children. We are willing to help. Let’s all do our part to keep our kids safe,” Ranft concluded.

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