Road Safety Blog

Why are baby car seats important when transporting small children?

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We often hear about the driver and passengers having to buckle up but securing small children in baby seats before travelling is just as critically important. Before you start to install a baby seat in your car, please confirm with the car manufacturer how to secure them, and what kind of baby seat should be used. Read on and discover the importance of providing a baby car seat to transport your precious child.1

The risk is just too great1

Some may point out that when they were toddlers in the 1980s, they survived without using a baby car seat. That may be so, but there are now about 12 million motorists on South African roads. The risk has increased tremendously. The International Transport Forum 2017 Road Safety Report placed South Africa  last out of 41 countries for the most road deaths. This is a most sobering fact to consider.

The fall-out of high-risk South African roads1

On average 13 000 to 14 000 people die on South African roads every year. About half a million people are injured annually, or 1 person every minute. This certainly makes you think about the safety of your loved ones in a car.

During a car crash, you have no chance1

The forces at play during a car crash are so huge that we don’t stand a chance if we are not buckled up. During a crash, our body weight is multiplied by the speed travelled at the time. During a 40 km/hr car crash, a 6-kg baby becomes the equivalent of a 240-kg being. At that crash speed, a small baby will be ripped out of her mother’s arms sitting in the back seat.

Having no baby seat is illegal1

South African law stipulates that any child under the age of 3 may only travel in a car if strapped into an approved baby seat. Unfortunately, this law does not apply to people travelling in a minibus or bus that is used for financial benefit.

The proof lies in the pudding1

The introduction of seatbelts in 1970 in Australia caused a huge decline in road deaths. Yet, despite being buckled in with adult seatbelts, children continued to be seriously injured in Australia – in fact, statistics show 1000 injuries a year. Researchers found that little children who buckled up with adult seat belts were still 3 times more likely to get injured in a crash compared to adults.

Children are smaller than adults1

Children do not have the same dimensions as adults. They have larger heads, smaller hipbones, and are shorter. The adult safety belt is not designed for those dimensions. The lap-belt that is meant to go across the adult hips lies across the child’s waist and it’s no surprise that this incorrect posture causes serious neck and head injuries and damaged intestines in little children.

Why not buy a used baby car seat? 1

This may cause a problem, because baby car seats get regular updates, as technology and materials improve with time. Updates are based on the latest crash data. Furthermore, baby car seats only have a limited lifespan, due to the slow deterioration of the materials used for the manufacture of a baby seat. The constant big changes in the interior temperature of a car can cause seat plastics to become brittle over time.

This article is about safety during car crashes. Have you considered whether your car is fully financially protected from the damage of a car crash? Are you considering getting comprehensive car insurance cover? Get a quote for affordable comprehensive car insurance with PMD and save up to 20%, enjoy premiums that don’t increase, and reduce to zero excess.* T’s ad C’s apply.

This article was prepared by Eric Sandmann in his personal capacity. The views and opinions expressed in this article are the author’s own. The views and opinions in the article should not be attributed to anyone but the author unless expressly stated. Nothing in this article should be relied upon as advice, this publication is presented for informational purposes only. No person should act or refrain from acting in reliance on any information found in this article, without first obtaining proper financial advice from the appropriate professional. The author makes no claims, promises or guarantees about the accuracy, or completeness, of any information linked from, referred to, or contained in this article. The author reserves the right, to edit and change the content of this article.

 

Source:

1 https://www.preciouscargo.co.za/blogs/car-seat-support/why-car-seats-are-important-in-south-africa

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