Parents urged to buckle up their children this festive season
Parents are cautioned to keep their children safe and not leave them unattended inside motor-vehicles.
The Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) urges parents and caregivers to ensure children are properly restrained when travelling on South African roads this festive season.
The call follows concerns raised at roadside checkpoints across the country, where officials noted that many children were travelling unrestrained, despite vehicles being fitted with approved child restraint systems or child seats.
The RTMC reminds motorists that the use of appropriate child restraints is not optional and is required by law. Infants and children under the age of three must be secured in a correctly fitted child restraint seat. It is a criminal offence to allow a child younger than 14 to travel without a seatbelt in a vehicle equipped with seatbelts.
“Children must use an age-appropriate car seat or booster seat until they are tall enough for an adult seatbelt to fit correctly. This means the lap belt should sit low over the hips, and the shoulder belt should cross the chest and shoulder, not the neck. Even when children are no longer using booster seats, they must always wear seatbelts, whether seated in the front or rear of the vehicle.”
The RTMC emphasised that responsibility lies entirely with the driver or the adult in charge of the vehicle. Drivers are expected to check that child seats and booster seats are properly secured and in good working condition before every trip. A correctly installed car seat should not move more than an inch from side to side or front to back.
Parents are also cautioned against driving while distracted by restless or irritable children. It is safer to pull over at a secure rest stop if a child needs attention, feeding, or a break. Motorists are advised to plan regular stops every two hours or after 200 km to allow children to stretch, use bathroom facilities, and refresh.
“Loose items and luggage should be stored in the boot, as unsecured objects can become dangerous projectiles in the event of a crash, posing a serious risk to occupants, particularly children.
“Caregivers were further urged to teach children basic road safety rules, including not tampering with door handles or attempting to open windows while the vehicle is in motion. Child safety locks should be activated at all times.”
The RTMC warns that children should never be left unattended in a vehicle, even for a short period, due to the dangers of heat exposure, distress, and possible abduction.
