Act to ensure extra safety for children in vehicles

The newly amended National Road Safety Act has been well received. The act makes it compulsory for child passengers aged three and under to be buckled up and children must be seated in the appropriate seats when travelling. The amendment will take effect in 2015.

A social worker in Honeydew and at the University of Johannesburg’s (UJ) Social Work Department, Ronelle Sartor is one of the people who praised the act. “It is high time that this has happened, and I am glad that it makes the safety and protection of a child priority, ” she added.

Peggie Mars, founder of Wheel Well for Children Road Safety said that she is delighted with the amendment and glad that it is going to be compulsory for children to be buckled up and in the appropriate seats.

Mars shares her safety tips for parents driving with children:

• Always secure your child in a car seat when you drive anywhere.

• It is dangerous to keep your child in a car seat that they have outgrown – when they have reached the upper weight margin of the seat OR their shoulder is higher than the highest belt adjustment of the seat.

• Try and keep your child in a rear facing seat till they are two years old. Rear facing installation gives your child head and neck protection.

• Harness belts must not be twisted or turned. This will aggravate bruising in a collision and will interfere with the proper adjustment of the harness.

• Tighten the harness right. The harness must fit snug – you must be able to fit your hand in between your child’s tummy and the buckle.

• The shoulder straps of the harness must never go over and below the shoulder. At shoulder height or slightly above shoulder is good.

• Car seats must be installed with a three-point seat belt unless they are specifically designed for a lap-belt-only installation.

• Make sure your seat has good side-impact protection to protect your child’s head, neck and spine.

• Car seats are used to minimise risk during a collision. They do not eliminate risk. You must adjust your driving when driving with children.

• Children under the age of 13 should sit on the back seat.

• The safest seating in the vehicle is at the back in the centre.

• Never use a car seat where there are air bags. Airbags deploy at 350km/h and can seriously injure your child and even cause death.

• Always install your car seat as per the directions in the manual.

Details :If you have any queries or require a car seat safety check, contact peggie@wheelwell.co.za