DRIVING YOUR CHILD TO SCHOOL

Motor vehicle crashes remain the leading cause of unintentional-injury death among children ages 14 and under. To help keep children safe, Safe Kids Minnesota offers these safety tips for driving to school or participating in car pools:

Always use child safety seats and/or safety belts correctly every time you ride. Remain belted until exiting the vehicle. Never carry more passengers than there are safety belts in the vehicle. In Minnesota a child who is both under age 8 and shorter than 4 feet 9 inches is required to be fastened in a child safety seat that meets federal safety standards. Under Minnesota law, a child cannot use a seat belt alone until they are age 8, or 4 feet 9 inches tall. It is recommended to keep a child in a booster based on their height rather than their age. Check the instruction book or label of the child safety seat to be sure it is the right seat for your child’s weight and height.

Don’t store loose or heavy objects in the passenger area of the car that could injure someone if you stop suddenly.

The driver should allow extra time in the schedule to avoid the pressure of driving too fast when late.

Drop off your children as close to school as possible so that they do not have to cross the street, and make sure they enter and leave the car on the curb side.

Arrange to pick up your child at a safe spot away from the congestion of cars around the school.

CHILDREN AND AIR BAGS

The back seat is the safest place for children of any age to ride.

Never place an infant (less than 1 year old) in a rearward-facing child safety seat in the front passenger seat of a vehicle with a front passenger air bag. The back of a rear-facing infant or convertible seat rests too close to the air bag cover. Because the air bag opens with a great deal of force, serious injuries or death could occur if the child seat is too close.

If it is absolutely necessary for a child age 12 or under to ride in the front seat of a car with a front passenger side air bag:
Secure the child in a restraint system that is correct for the size of the child: a front facing child safety seat, a booster seat or a lap/shoulder belt.
Move the front seat as far back from the dashboard as possible.
Following these important safety guidelines and reviewing them each year with your children can help keep the back-to-school season safe. Parents and caregivers can be the best teachers when it comes to childhood injury prevention.

Acknowledgments:
Safe Kids Worldwide
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration