The Automobile Association warns motorists to secure children while travelling

The Automobile Association (AA) has said on Monday (4 February) that older children who have outgrown their child restraint seats must still be to be properly secured while travelling.

According to Automobile Association’s Child Safety Seat Survey, it indicates that a quarter of motorists admit to not restraining children under 12 years of age at all while driving.

“Having a child passenger – whether it is in the front passenger seat or back seats – restrained while driving is absolutely essential to ensure proper safety. Study after study has shown that children who aren’t properly restrained, and who are involved in crashes – even at slower speeds – have more chance of being seriously injured or, worse, killed, than those who are,” said the AA.

The association said many parents or guardians do not restrain children when they are too big for baby car seats and too small for adult-sized seatbelts.

“In this case, drivers must look for booster seats or other restraining devices which are easily available and which cater for older or bigger children, to keep them safely harnessed in the vehicle. Having a child sit in a car without being buckled up is betting with their lives.”

There are five important rules that the AA said motorists must obey when driving with children:

•         Set an example by always using your own seatbelt
•         Choose the right car seat for your baby or young child
•         Properly attach the child seat to the car
•         Fasten your child in the child seat correctly
•         Adjust the harnesses as the child grows and adapt the harness for summer and winter clothing as there may be a difference.

The AA said motorists must take their vehicles and child to the shop and try different models before making a decision.

The association also said parents and guardians must make sure their passengers are restrained at all times.

“People overestimate their abilities which, in the end, doesn’t determine whether they are involved in a crash or not. Many good drivers are the victims of other people’s reckless road behaviour and precisely for this reason, every precaution must be taken to ensure your, and your passengers’ safety.”

Current legislation requires children up to the age of three to be harnessed securely in an approved child restraint when travelling in a car. The AA said this does not include an adult holding onto a baby in the front seat of a car when the car is on the road.

“A 10-kilogram child who is involved in a crash at 60km/h will weigh 600kgs at the moment of impact. At this weight, no-one is going to prevent that child from slamming through the front windshield. People who have children sit on their laps while driving (in many instances who are themselves buckled up) are reckless and irresponsible and should immediately stop this dangerous practice.”

Related article: 

https://www.citizen.co.za/rosebank-killarney-gazette/210643/possible-fuel-gains-wiped-out-by-tax-increases-says-automobile-association/