My daughter is 10 years old and still uses a booster seat; my son is 7 years old and still uses a five-point harness carseat. I know the majority of their friends have moved on to the next step, but as someone who has lost a loved one to a car accident, I care more about safety than convenience or whether or not the kids will be “embarrassed” by my insistence that they are buckled in before I move the car.
In my car, there are a few things that are up for debate like who gets to pick the station we listen to or the movie to watch on a long road trip. But one rule that is NEVER up for debate: the car doesn’t move until everyone is wearing a seat belt. It seems SO obvious, but I know how tempting it is to let the kids buckle up as you pull out of your garage or parking space. But the seatbelt isn’t an optional accessory; it’s the law, and more than that, it’s Mama’s law!
Did you know that one child passenger age 8 – 14 is injured every 8 minutes in a car crash? From 2009 – 2013, 1,522 kids ages 8-14 died in car, SUV and van crashes. Of those who died, almost half were unbelted. As children get older they’re sometimes less likely to buckle up. The percentage of child passengers who die while riding unrestrained generally increases with age and is most pronounced among 13 and 14-year-olds regardless of seating position.
Check out this Battlefield Minivan Video:
Learn More:
-Visit www.safercar.gov/kidsbuckleup; for more info about buckling up!
-Learn when to transition your child out of the booster seat to a seat belt and find out how it should properly fit. http://www.safercar.gov/parents/SeatBelts/Beyond-Booster-Seats.htm
-Parents are the #1 influence on children’s seat belt usage:http://www.safercar.gov/parents/SeatBelts/Number-One-Influence.htm
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