Road Safety Blog

Tips to keep your children safe if they use a carpool

jonckie

It’s that time of the year again when schools welcome children to start another new year of their lives. With the majority of both moms and dads busy earning a living, it becomes a challenge to transport kids everywhere and anywhere. That’s why carpooling has become an ideal solution for many families in South Africa. Carpooling transports kids to the same school and for extramural activities.

Is carpooling safe?

When it comes to our precious children, it’s all about safety. It’s important for parents to ask if having their kids in a carpool is safe enough. It’s no guarantee that being in a motor car is safe, but the good news is that we can make it as safe as possible. Read on and consider the following steps to keep out children safe if they’re using a carpool.1

Who’s driving?

Your children are precious cargo transported in a car by a particular driver who must be trustworthy with an excellent record.  You need to know that person who drives your children around, to satisfy yourself that you can entrust your kids into their care. If you don’t know the driver, do a background check on their driving history, making sure that they have a valid driver’s license and can see well. 1

What if the designated driver is not available?

You need a contingency plan with other parents regarding who can replace the usual driver if necessary. No car pool drivers should be allowed to appoint anyone else to transport your children. 1

Each child in a car must be secure in a seat

To have four kids jammed into the back seat of a car without each one buckled up is unacceptable. And it’s no good saying that the kids are only travelling two blocks. Each child must be securely fastened with a safety belt to minimise risk. It’s illegal not to do so.1

Establish a reliable procedure

Each driver must strictly follow an approved plan,  following an approved route and not deviate. Pick-up and drop-off zones must always be at the same location and time. This way, everyone will know how the carpool operates at any time. 1

The children must understand

Parents need to inform their kids about the carpool procedure, and that they may only be in a car when safely secured with a safety belt. Tell them to report anything that makes them feel unsafe during a school trip. They must know that no one can force them to be with a driver if they are unhappy. 1

Disclaimer

This article’s aim is to show you how to always keep children safe while in a carpool. 1

Protecting children when participating in a carpool is one thing, but what about protecting your car with great car insurance? We at PMD have affordable car insurance products for you to enjoy. Contact us and allow us to share our world-class client service with you. These products have unique benefits such as fixed premiums* and a reduce-to-zero excess*. T’s and C’s apply.

With all financial services products,  first contact a certified financial advisor for professional advice, so that you can buy the correct one.

Source:

1https://saferide4kids.com/blog/staying-safe-in-the-carpool/

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.

 

 

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