One of the saddest things we can come across are the motor vehicle accidents that happen in homes all over the world every day. Aside from the obvious reasons for it being a saddening happenstance, that a child or adult was injured by someone in their own family, is the fact that most of these kinds of accidents are preventable.
They are easily preventable by just a few precautions. When you are not inside your car, lock it. Put the keys up where they aren’t a temptation. While you can’t imagine it, more than 500 children a year take their parents keys and attempt to do what they seem mom and dad do. Driving the car is something every child imagines as a fun activity. The youngest in recent news was five when he crashed his parent’s car and spent several weeks in a hospital… Hang your keys out of reach and teach your kids from the time they are old enough to hear you that driving is for adults.
When you back out of your garage or driveway, make it a hard and fast rule that no one is permitted outside in the immediate area. Not only make the rule but enforce it. As a safeguard to that, prior to starting your engine, if you have young children, walk around your car. It’s a small price to pay. Granted it takes an extra moment of your time, but make it a habit to do. Walk the entire distance around your car. That extra five minutes of your time might save a life.
Don’t permit anyone to drive your car while drinking. Yes, that’s common sense, but its miraculous how many people think that it’s fine to drive to the store or down the street after “just a drink or two”. You may be nowhere near the legal limit but you are still impaired.
Use car seats. If your children are too old for car seats or booster seats, make them use seat belts.
When your car is hit, the forward momentum will impel your child into the front seat, or further. No matter how old your kids are, they are never too old for a seatbelt.
Never let your children ride, or you either for that matter, with an arm hanging out of a window. One of the surest ways for an injury to take place is this way. You may be the world’s safest drive. Can you guarantee that you’re not going to be sideswiped at the next intersection? No one can. Keep your hands, arms, head, feet and anything else inside the car. It’s a lot safer there.