Summer Driving Series: Don't Leave Your Kids in the Car!

Summer is here!  You are hopefully enjoying your air conditioner as you drive through town. (If not, make sure you call Jake's Auto to have your vehicle checked to keep from melting this summer!)  However, if you are not driving, make sure that you or your children are not left in the car.

Here's why, on average, 37 children die each year due to heat stroke from being left in unattended vehicles.  A child's body heats up 3-5 times faster than an adult's body, and their temperature only needs to get as high as 107 before death occurs.  Also, even if the temperature is mild outside, (maybe in the low 60s), inside a vehicle the temperature can reach 110 degrees!  Even when rolling the windows down, the temperature can still rise to an unhealthy degree.

You may think that none of this applies to you.  You are a loving parent who deeply cares about your child, and would never think to leave him/her in a hot, stuffy car.  Unfortunately, over 55% of cases where a child has died, due to being left in a vehicle, in which the person responsible did so unknowingly!

You might think how in the world could anyone unknowingly leave their child in a car?  When you are on the top of your game, you definitely wouldn't.  However, many accidents like this occur, when a person is under a great amount of stress, tired, or straying from their normal routine, especially if the child in quiet or asleep.

Rather than focus on the negative, we want to focus on the positive and what you can do to prevent this type of tragic accident from happening.

1. Look Before You Lock.  It will never hurt to always check the backseat of your vehicle before locking it.  
2. Create a Reminder. You could keep a stuffed animal in your child's car seat when they are not in the vehicle.  When your child rides in his/her car seat, move the stuffed animal to the front seat, so you will see it when you get out of the car.  Or, you could put your phone, purse/briefcase, work ID, etc in the back seat, so you are sure to grab it, and check the backseat before walking away from your vehicle.
3. Routine Check. If you have someone else taking your child somewhere, or driving them to daycare, etc. call them and check on your child.  
4. Keep Your Vehicle Locked, and Your Keys in a Secure Place. Sometimes a child isn't left in the car, sometimes they climb in themselves and then can't get out. Keeping your vehicle locked and keys in a secure places, will help eliminating a child from being in the car without your knowledge. 

These few extra checks will take moments to perform, but the habit could save any of us from tragic accidents that we all want to avoid.

Teen Driver Safety Week

October 16-22 is National Teen Driver Safety Week. Many of you have teens on the road and may be concerned as they walk out the door with keys in hand.

Too many accidents happen each year due to unsafe teenage driving.  Risks involved can range from not wearing seat belts to speeding, to extra passengers, to distracted driving and even alcohol use.

Many of us have heard incredibly frightening statistics about teen drivers.  Many of those statistics were probably shared when we were back in school taking driver's ed ourselves.  However, studies show that those "scare" tactics rarely work.

So instead of sharing some of those scare tactics, focus on what you can do to keep your teen safe.  The first thing you can do is be an example.  Follow speed limits, don't talk on your phone or text while driving, and always be sure to never consume alcohol or drugs while driving or prior to driving.

Next, talk to your kids.  They can't listen, if you're not talking.  No guarantees your teen will listen the first time, but as you talk with them in nonthreatening situations, and over and over, they will listen.

The NHTSA has put for a "5 to Drive" campaign.  The "5 to Drive" are:

1. No Drinking and Driving.  Teens are under the legal age to drink, and should never consume alcohol. You can also be an example by never drinking and driving, regardless of your age.
2. Buckle Up.  Everyone in the car should always be buckled up.  It doesn't matter if passengers are in the front seat or the back, a child or an adult, a short trip or a long one.  Everyone needs a seat belt!
3. Eyes on the Road, Hands on the Wheel.  It is very easy to become distracted while driving.  Recommend that your teen (and yourself as well), keep their phone out of reach and on silent while driving.  It is illegal to operate a handheld device while driving in Utah, regardless of the age of the driver.
4. Stop Speeding Before it Stops You. As your speed increases, so does your stopping distance.  It is important to follow the speed limit on the road, and also to decrease your speed as needed due to weather, temperature, and other factors on the road.
5. No More Than One Passenger at Any Time.  With the increase of passengers, your teen's risk of a fatal crash goes up.  In Utah, a teen driver 15-17 cannot have other passengers in the car, besides immediate family for the first 6 months.  Stick to the laws, they are there to keep you and your teen safe.

Having a teenage driver in the house is really one of the best things out there.  You have another driver in the house that can run errands for you, drop kids off at lessons, or friend's house, and it helps your child take on more responsibility.  Arm your teen with the proper skills they need to be safe on the road.

Back to School and Safely Driving

School is back in session and you are starting to get back into a routine.  It's important to keep a few safety tips in mind as you drive through town and in neighborhoods.

Obey traffic laws.  Recognize when a speed limit changes, or when you are in a school zone.

When in a school zone, watch for crossing guards, and children walking on side walks or crossing the road, especially not at the crosswalk.  It's a safe bet that not all of the kids will stay on the side walk.

Remember to stop when you see a stopped school bus with flashing lights.  The law states you need to stop if you are behind the bus, or if you are oncoming traffic.  Also, be sure to watch behind the bus, because sometimes children cross the road behind instead of in front of the bus as they are supposed to.

Be alert when passing parks or playgrounds or even groups of children playing.  You never know when a ball or toy will be thrown in the road, and a child will come running out after it, oblivious to any traffic in the road.

Always walk around your car before you back up, especially when pulling out of a driveway.  It's better to take just a few minutes to make sure your path is clear, and be a few minutes late.

Finally, be wise when you drive, and avoid distracted driving, such as texting, talking on the phone, fixing your make-up/shaving, or eating.  Keep your eyes on the road.

Child Passenger Safety Week & National Seat Check

Are you driving around town with your most prized possession, your children in the car?  Are they in the proper car seat or booster?  How do you know if they are?

Vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for children between the ages 1-12 years old (safercar.gov).  Many of these deaths and injuries can be prevented, simply by restraining your child in the proper car seat or booster.

Car seats have come a long way since they were first used.  Years ago, a car seat was used to raise the child up in the car, or keep them contained.  Traveling here and there, you would hold the baby/child on your lap.

Now it's the law.  According to Utah law, children under the age of 8 must be restrained in a proper car seat or booster seat.  The only exception is if the child is at least 57 inches tall.

September 18-24, 2016 is Child Passenger Safety Week, and Saturday September 24, 2016 is National Seat Check.  This is a good time to check to be sure that your child is in the proper seat.

How do you know which car seat or booster is right for you child?  Generally speaking a child should be in a rear facing car seat until 2 years of age, a front facing car seat between the ages of 2-5, a booster seat 5 and up, and a seat belt if they have reached 57 inches.  A great link to really determine the best car seat for your child is found here.

Now that you have the right car seat, how do you know if you have installed it correctly?  Your first resource is the car seat's user manual.  It will tell you the most efficient and safe way to install the car seat.  There are also a number of places you can go and have a Nationally Certified Child Passenger Safety Technician install the car seat for you.  For locations in Utah, please click here.

Finally, once you have the proper car seat, installed properly, don't forget to register the car seat for recalls.  You've gone to great lengths to keeping your child(ren) safe, stay informed on what recalls have been issued so you can continue being safe on the road with your family.