Car seat optional?
Would you ever let your kids ride in the car without being strapped into an age-appropriate car seat?
I try not to judge other parents. I know that most of the time, most of us are just doing the best we can. But what really makes me act like Captain Furious is when I see kids bouncing around in the back of a car without being strapped into a car seat.
Why would a parent do that? What goes through the minds of those parents, who I am pretty sure love their kids, when they set off in the car without restraining them? Worst of the worst are those parents driving R800 000 cars, but who haven’t spent less than R1000 making sure their kids are sitting in safe seats. C’mon already!
I don’t often call anyone a bad parent, let alone mean it, but when I see parents letting their kids bounce around in the back seat, or worse, stand between the two front seats, that’s pretty much the first thing that comes to mind. South Africa has atrocious road safety statistics, so it’s just common sense to buckle up your most precious little people. An unrestrained child in a car accident literally becomes a missile, heading straight through the windscreen or into the dashboard. Never mind that their heads are disproportionately heavy at this age, which only contributes to their likelihood to fly forward when you brake suddenly. The injuries caused by that kind of trauma are too terrible to mention.
And I’m afraid that “my child doesn’t like the car seat” nonsense just won’t wash with Captain Furious. My kids have been drilled since birth that no one goes in the car without being strapped in first, grown-ups included, and although I’ll admit that there are days when it might take five minutes to get my wriggling little protester into said seat, that’s the rule and it never gets broken. For me, some things are just too important to compromise on.
What do you think?
Would you ever let your kids ride in the car without being strapped into an age-appropriate car seat? Or do you think Captain Furious is actually Captain Too-cautious?
By Running Amok in Mommytown
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Comments - 7 comments
Polly
I absolutely and completely agree. To even contemplate putting my child in the car without buckling up is unfathomable! Even for a short 2 minute trip. The risks of not doing this doesn't bare thinking about. Parents who ignore this are cretins and should not have had children. It just beggars belief. And strangely this behavior is almost unheard of in Australia, Uk, USA. You would get pulled over immediately and fined. Why can't South Africa follow suit???andrew
I agree with the writer. I too have made it a rule since my son's birth to strap him in his car seat. He is now 3yrs old and he will make a fuss if he is not straped into his booster seat. In fact it makes me proud when i hear him say"daddy put your seatbelt on" The police should have a zero tolerence policy which would save more lifes. I suppose we should bring car seat safety as part of the k53 test. I saw a 4yr old boy go through the windscreen last week. Yes he is dead!!! A car seat sells from R600.00 and a coffin from R6000.00. Your choice??Dee Johnstone
Fantastic article. I actually ask people who have unrestrained children in the car if I may have them, as I feel the parent clearly doesn't. If they did want the child they would trap them in. I posted a group on my Facebook profile dedicated to the awareness of unrestrained children. I have gone so far as to take photos of children travelling in cars that are unrestrained. “my child doesn’t like the car seat” - With this excuse I like to ask the mother/father, who the parent really is? More needs to be done about this topic.Shell
I couldn't agree more. I have this running battle with my in-laws and other family members who feel their parents didn't use carseats and nothing happened to them so "what's the big deal". The worst thing I ever heard was that it's a "western (white) thing". I know someone who works with the broken children of car accidents at Red Cross Hospital and her retelling of things that happens at work is enough to keep my child strapped - full stop. It has to start at birth and it must be made clear that the car will NOT move if everyone is strapped in.Ethne Starke
no, you cannot let a child be unrestrained in a car. you have no idea when an accident will happen. My son hated car seats and once screamed for a 25km journey home. so what - he was safe in his seat. my daughter is alive to-day because she was buckled up in an accident which she could not have survived if she had not been strapped in.Ronel
My Granddaughter? Never! How many more adverts with flying pumpkins,bloodied children,and research do we need before we accept that not strapping in children is like playing Russian-roulette?Tasha
I do not understand how parents do this either... I hear.. "But I drive slowly!" Like that makes a difference. Also, why do the traffic officers never pull people over?