It is hard to believe we are nearing back to school! For some, this is the first time in 18 months that they will be inside a school building. For others, a transition back to full-time in-person learning. Huge kudos to all parents out there, you survived some of the most challenging learning times, and now the kids (and adults!) get to return to some semblance of normal. No matter the circumstances, we want everyone to be safe and ready to hit the books. Now, let's take a moment of appreciation for our teachers and get these kids ready for school! Back to school is an excellent time to review car safety as it relates to young kids and car seats, pre-teens, and teens, as well as those going off to college.
Safe Kids Worldwide is an excellent source of information. They are a nonprofit dedicated to reducing preventable injuries and death. Not surprisingly, issues related to car safety are a large percentage of avoidable injuries and deaths, and they include car seat misuse, pedestrian safety, and teen driving.
Young Kids and Car Seats
Perhaps you have heard the troubling statistic that four of five car seats are used incorrectly. Even if you think you have installed a car seat correctly, it is never a bad idea to get it inspected. Colorado has over 140 car seat installation inspection sites- find one here and be sure your child is restrained correctly.
While Colorado law is less restrictive, research on the matter has evolved and, as of November 2018, the American Academy of Pediatrics has revised their recommendations, now recommending that children remain in rear-facing car seats as long as possible- until they reach the maximum weight or height limit allowed by their seat (max weight limit generally being 35-40lbs). While they have removed specific age recommendations based on average weight and height, this will include most children up to four years old.
Once kids are facing forward, they should continue to use a seat with a five-point harness, again, until they reach the height and weight limits for their seats (many seats can accommodate children up to 65 pounds or more).
Pre-Teens and Teens
Pre-teen and teen pedestrian injuries and deaths are on the rise. Since 2013 there has been a 13% increase in pedestrian deaths for 12 to 19 year-olds, and now five teen pedestrians are killed every week in the United States. One contributor is distracted and unsafe walking behavior. In the era of cell phone dependency, it is not surprising that distracted walking poses a significant risk. Teenagers (rather than young children) are now the most at-risk for pedestrian injuries. You can increase your pre-teen or teen's pedestrian safety by talking to your kids and doing your best to make sure they follow Safe Kids Worldwide's Teen Pedestrian Top Safety Tips:
1) If your children need to use a cell phone, make sure they stop walking and find a safe area to talk. When using headphones, kids should be sure to look up and pay extra attention and remove the headphones when crossing the street.
2) Cross the road at corners, using traffic signals and crosswalks. Most injuries happen mid-block or someplace other than intersections.
3) It's always best to walk on sidewalks or paths. If there are no sidewalks, walk facing traffic as far to the left as possible.
4) Tell kids to look left, right, and left again when crossing the street. Teach them never to run or dart out into the street or cross between parked cars.
5) Remind kids to make eye contact with drivers before crossing in front of them and to watch out for vehicles that are turning or backing up.
Off to College
As parents, we lose quite a bit of oversight of our kids once they are away at college. However, there are ways to ensure your child is prepared and ready to be on their own. One of these ways involves vehicle safety and dependability. If you have made the decision, your child will have a car (and checked to make sure the institution allows this as many colleges do not allow first-year students to have a car) the next step is to teach them the following essential car care tips before they head out.
1) Under the hood: check that fluids are topped off, oil is changed, and the battery is fully charged. The last thing anyone wants is to come out of a late-night class to a dead battery!
2) Monitor your tires: double-check the wear and tear; insert an upside-down penny in the tread groove; if you can see the top of Lincoln's head, it's time to get new tires. Also, be sure they double-check the tire pressure as low tire pressure can increase wear and tear. It's a good idea to keep a tire gauge in the car and remind them to check the tires monthly.
3) Lights: this is the perfect way to get your child in on the maintenance. Have your child turn on all the lights while the car is in park, and walk around the entire vehicle to make sure everything is functioning correctly.
4) Have their brakes inspected: a suitable service provider can check the brakes while they are changing the oil to ensure they are in good working order.
5) Stock an emergency kit: it's always a good idea to have several items stocked for an emergency kit; a flashlight, tire repair kit, first aid items, a basic tool kit (lug wrench, screwdriver, hammer), jumper cables, hazard triangle, water a blanket and even a small amount of cash.
6) Emergency contact: make sure your child has established themselves with a quality local auto repair shop. Additionally, AAA is always a helpful safety net in case of a flat tire or breakdown, and they offer "associate" memberships for dependent children away at school.
As back to school approaches, reminding ourselves of the importance of auto safety for our kids is invaluable.
Thank you for allowing Addison Auto Repair and Body Shop to serve you and your family in your car care needs.
