Safety in driving cannot be over emphasized. As much as we enjoy the convenience that comes with moving from one location to another without having to walk by foot, of what use is that if we cannot be safe?

Every other day, people get involved in one car crash or another. Those who have lost their lives through crashes would avoid cars like a plaque if they had another chance. Should we discard our cars because they could cause harm to us? Not exactly. Everything comes with a risk, and this risk is greatly minimized if caution is taken.

Naijacarnews brings you some car safety measures to stay safe.

1. Do not leave kids alone in cars

There is a reason why kids need constant attention and supervision of their parents or guardians. They are highly vulnerable and susceptible to danger because they do not have the intellect to make good decisions yet neither do they have the physical strength to resist danger if it arises.

A scorching sun could hurt the little girl badly in car

Cars parked in the scorching sun can become dangerously hot. Such a sun can squeeze the life out of infants and toddlers. Apart from the sun, in their usual curiosity, when left in a car, kids might try to move the car, and a tragedy could occur in the presence. If you must leave the car, take your kids along with you. They are safer under your watch.

2. Front seats are not for kids

In a bid to seem cool and express how much they love their kids, some parents always let them sit in the front. You are doing your child more harm than good with this. Front seats are not meant for children.

In the event of a frontal crash which is high in road crashes, those in the front seat feel the heat more than others. That is why seat belts are always present in the front and absent in the rear seat of some cars.

3. Air bags are harmful to children

Airbags might be life savers during a crash, but there is more to the story. These airbags have been proven to be very dangerous where little kids such as infants and toddlers are concerned as they can be suffocated.

If you are bent on having your little kids sit in the front, ensure that you deactivate the airbags temporarily for their sake. You do not want them to get suffocated if the airbags pop up for any reason.

4. Bigger cars do not guarantee more safety

There is a misconception among people that bigger cars are safer than smaller ones due to the more metal that surrounds occupants. But this is not correct. Bigger cars are known to roll over even more than smaller cars in a crash.

This SUV can somersault easily without an electric stability control

Cars like SUVs have a higher tendency to somersault in a crash because their center of gravity is higher than that of others. To curb this, automakers have created a device known as Electronic Stability Control. It basically gives SUVs more balance to prevent them from flipping. Before buying an SUV, ask the dealer if the car has one. If it does not, you should endeavor to avoid over-speeding, overloading, swerving and making sudden turns.

5. Purchase the right type of seats

Car sales reps might tell you that car seats are one-size-fits-all, but that is not true. Their sizes vary. Little kids need their own seats to keep them safe in a car. These seats are strapped onto the anchors in the rear. Do not pick just anyone. Take your child’s seat along with you to the car dealership, and place the anchors to be sure it fits. If the seat’s tether straps do not align with the anchors, you should look elsewhere.

6. Don't scatter sharp objects around

It is easy to leave objects in the car even after making use of them. Before long, there are things everywhere, occupying space meant for people to sit comfortably. Besides littering the car, these objects can be very harmful if the car swerves or stops abruptly. That pen you kept on the dashboard could pierce into someone’s eye, inflicting serious injury on them. All items used in the car should be kept in safe places or discarded if they no longer serve any use. 

7. Install car seats properly

Car seats are meant to be tight and not loose. This is to avoid a shaking in the event of a collision or unexpected stop. Occupants of loose seats, especially children, could be forced out of their seat, hitting their head on metals.

Ensure that you little child is well strapped

After tightening the seat, ensure that everyone in the car fastens their seat belt.

8. Position your child carefully

Parents always want to please their kids and make them happy. They think positioning an infant to sea ahead from their baby seat makes the child happier. Your baby might be happier about this, but you are endangering their life. Keep infants in rear-facing seats until they are about a year old.

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