Safety is an essential aspect when traveling by car, especially if the youngest members of the household are on board. In many occasions, the rush makes us not realize specific details that endanger the safety of our children. For this reason, today we give you some recommendations to take into account in order to take children safely in the car:
– Children under 1.35 m tall must ride in the back of the car. They may not ride in the front seat until they exceed either 18 years of age or 135 centimeters. The only exception to this rule is if all the rear seats are already occupied by child seats. In this case, the child may sit in the front seat, but in an approved seat suitable for his or her height and weight.
Likewise, until children reach this height of 135 centimeters, they must travel in an approved car seat.
– Each seat is installed according to its instructions. It is not mandatory to mount the seats in one direction or the other (forward or rear-facing), you should refer to the instructions for that particular seat. The only exception is if the seat is placed in a front seat and the airbag is not deactivated. In the latter case, it is forbidden for the seat to travel in the opposite direction.
If not specified in the instructions, child seats positioned rearward-facing are usually safer.
– It is important to choose a child restraint system that is appropriate for the age and height of the child.
– The vehicle seat must be perfectly adjusted to the anchorage. Before setting off, it is essential to check that the harnesses and seat belt are not twisted or loose.
– Don’t know when to change the car seat? Keep in mind that the child’s head should never stick out over the backrest. When this happens, it is necessary to change to a bigger car seat.
– Do not leave your child’s coat on in the car. It may not seem like a big deal, but this decision can be very dangerous for the child. The coat acts as a fictitious barrier between the child and the belt. We tighten the harness, but in reality we tighten it over the coat, with the result that the harness is loose. There is enough space for the child to be thrown out of the vehicle in the event of a traffic accident.
