Seat belts, car seats are forms of restraints which prevent occupants being ejected from the vehicle. Some people think it is a hassle having to be strapped down.
A child that is properly secured in an approved child restraint is less likely to be injured or killed in a car crash than one who is not.
I always buckled up my children in their car restraints, but I had this harrowing experience. It was shortly after Andrew had died. I had a 4 years plus kid, and a 20 month kid. I stopped the car at one of the most busy road in Auckland, before I could unbuckle the 20 month old out of her car seat, the 4 year old had dashed across the road. Cars screeched to a stop on both directions. Lots of old ladies pointing their fingers at me.
A kind woman said, "Next time, unbuckle the baby first"
If 4 year old was killed, I wouldn't want to live either.I need a Valium washed down with wine!
The new national child restraint laws state in Australia:
- Children younger than six months must be secured in a rearward facing restraint.
- Children aged six months to under four years must be secured in either a rear or forward facing restraint.
- Children aged four years to under seven years must be secured in forward facing child restraint or booster seat.
- Children younger than four years cannot travel in the front seat of a vehicle with two or more rows.
- Children aged four years to under seven years cannot travel in the front seat of a vehicle with two or more rows, unless all other back seats are occupied by children younger than seven years in a child restraint or booster seat.
This past weekend, a group of American students from Boston University was involved in a fatal crash. Some students died, they were thrown out of the car. The inspector suspected that some were not restrainted as they were thrown out of their vehicle. These students were on an exchange program and were going to visit our famous Tongariro Crossing.
http://abcwednesday-mrsnesbitt.blogspot.com/
6 comments:
gr8 R theme-
Perfect.
when i was young (in college and early 20's), i needed to be reminded to buckle-up all the time. in those days, only the newer cars had seat belts and we took our safety for granted. then a former dorm-mate died from a vehicular accident--her seat-belt was not fastened. it was a wake up call for me. nowadays, it doesn't matter if i drive just 2 block away--i buckle up.
That is a scary story!!! When our son was a baby, there were no car seats or restraints. He would play in the back of the station wagon, we put the seat down in the back and he had a whole play floor. No one knew any better....
that is a sufficiently TERRIFYING story!
ROG, ABC Wednesday team
Oh dear, that could have been a disaster. Children are so unpredictable. Seat belts are second nature to me now, but we didn't even have them when my children were little.
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