http://ntsi.com/ | This document examines the importance of road safety for drivers with child passengers. It offers some statistics about the dangers of the road and looks at what people can do to keep those in their vehicle safe. It looks at safety and booster seats, good driving habits, and other choices people can make to be responsible parent-guardians while children are in the car.

1. Keep Your Kids Safe on the Road: Important Information for Parent-Drivers
Every parent understands that the safety of their child is their number one priority in all
situations. This is especially true when on the road where seemingly small choices can
have life or death consequences. The way a parent chooses to seat their child in the car,
the kind of safety equipment that they use, and the way they conduct themselves on the
road are all important factors for caretakers to consider every time they get behind the
wheel. This article looks at the choices that parents can make in order to ensure they are
doing everything that they can to keep the car a safe and fun place for their family.
The road can be a dangerous place for young passengers. According to the World Health
Organization, car accidents kill over 800,000 children under the age of 18, every year,
and are the leading cause of death between ages 10 and 18. Safety devices like seatbelts
are built to protect full-size adult drivers, and poor fitting seatbelts can be ineffective or
dangerous to their smaller, more fragile bodies. This means that car seats and booster
seats are necessary to provide optimal safety for a young passenger.
Not all car seats are created the same, and it’s important to make sure that you have one
that is age and size appropriate for your young passenger. Before reaching age two, all
children should be seated in rear-facing car seats. Rear-facing seats are the safer option,
in general, and should be utilized until they are outgrown. Once a child’s legs are too
long to fit comfortably in a rear-facing seat, however, front facing seats become the best
option until approximately age 5, at which time the vehicle should be outfitted with a
booster seat.
Booster seats are a relatively new addition to the protective seat family, but they bridge
the gap between full-fledged car seats and regular seat belts. Booster seats help young
passengers ride a little higher so that seat belts hit them in the right parts of their body for
maximum effectiveness. For a more comprehensive guide for which seat is right for your
child, the CDC has created a helpful guide that can be viewed here.
It is also important to remember that good safety equipment is not a substitute for good
driving habits. Even more important than ensuring that your child is protected in the
event of an accident is making sure that accidents are avoided in the first place. This is
best done by following all rules and regulations of the road, utilizing defensive driving
skills, and making sure that your vehicle is well-maintained and properly functioning.
Children can be a distraction, and it is important that your attention be devoted to what’s
happening on the road, no matter how demanding the pressure to focus on the child may
be.
It is often a good idea for new or prospective parents to take a traffic school class to brush
up on their basic skills, and reframe their priorities and expectations for driving, now that
they have the added responsibility of a child in the car. A defensive driving course such
as those offered by NTSI can ensure that you are the most alert and aware driver that you
can be – both for your sake and for the safety of your new family.

2. The roads used to be a far more dangerous place, but, thanks to advancements in safety
technology and a better idea of what drivers need to do to protect those dearest to them,
they are now safer than ever before. The protection of your child is nothing to take for
granted, so it is important to ensure that, every time you head out on the road, you are
doing everything you can to arrive at your location safe and happy.