My dad enjoys telling me stories of how, as a kid, I loved sitting in front of our car, on my mom’s lap; how excited I was to see the open road before me; and how I always felt so safe with Mom’s arms wrapped around me. Eventually, when I had my own child, I let my son experience the same thing - even allowing him to “drive” the car slowly, with me behind the wheel. Until one day, I found myself trying to calm him down while nursing a nasty bump on his forehead. Needless to say, that was the last time I ever let him sit with me behind the wheel again.
Sit down, you’re rocking the boat
While inside a car, letting your child sit on your lap can fool you into thinking he’s safe. You think your arms can substitute for his seat belt, but you are only putting your child’s life in danger by doing so. In case of a crash, your arms are not strong enough to keep a hold of your child. Try to watch a video of crash test dummies and take note of the whiplash that occurs when a car meets an accident. By letting your child sit on your lap, you are not keeping him safe but inducing more harm. The car may not crush him, but your body will.
Fasten your seatbelts
Most of us strap-in our children in the car using the seatbelt. But notice how the seatbelt sometimes rests on your child’s face or on his neck, and how he tends to slip the shoulder strap under his arm. Other times, your tot just leaves the lap belt on and places the shoulder strap behind him. These measures are not enough to keep him safe. With only the lap belt locked on your child’s body, his upper body does not have any support to keep him in place.
“Usually, if your child can wear a seatbelt without having it go over his face or neck, then he is ready to use this device. The rule of thumb is that kids nine years old and above can wear seatbelts, but children 12 years and below should not stay in the front seat as the air bag can cause serious injury because of the speed and impact of its deployment,” says JP Tuason, multi-awarded race car driver, road safety advocate, president of Tuason Racing School, and dad to Arthur, 9, and Aly, 5.
There is a proper way to use the seatbelt. It must go across the middle of the child’s chest and shoulder and not across his neck. The lap belt must go on top of his thighs and not rest on his stomach. And always be the one to strap-in your child to make sure that the seatbelt is locked and positioned properly.
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Prevention is key
According to Genaro Wilfred C. Asis, M.D., orthopedic doctor, and FPOA of Loyola International Multi-Specialty Clinic, prevention is the best tool to avoid accidents. “Why drive fast when you know you have a child in the car? If you want to speed up, install a five-point seatbelt for yourself and your child and let him wear a helmet.” He further advises, “The worst place to position your child is in front - whether or not he is seated on your lap. During an impact, he may hit his head on the dashboard or worse, he might fly out the windshield. The airbag could also suffocate a child, or you could crush him on impact because the force of the car is pushing forward. This will cause a greater injury on your child because you may crush his thorax.”
Dr. Asis adds, “A rear-facing infant seat is still the best. Assuming you hit your vehicle head on, the carrier will be able to protect your child when it pushes to the front. The design is made to enclose the child during an impact.”
Car seat savvy
Even a newborn must be placed in a car seat for safety. “If you could afford to have a car, then you could afford a child seat,” says Tuason. “Car seats are for younger kids who do not fit in a regular car seatbelt system. Infants need to ride in a rear-facing child seat while kids ages two to four may sit on a forward-facing child seat. Both of these systems should have independent five-point harnesses for the child. Use the car seatbelt system to hold down the device. Kids ages five to eight need a booster seat to avoid having the seatbelt go over their face or neck,” he adds.
Infant seat
• Make sure this is installed facing the rear. Volvo, as an advocate of car safety, says, “In a frontal collision, a small child’s neck cannot withstand the strain involved if the head is flung forward. A child’s head can be exposed to forces corresponding to a load of 100kg. However, in a rear-facing seat, these loads on the body will be spread out on the child seat backrest to help reduce the strain on the neck.”
• Is the child seat too big for your baby? Try adding bolster pillows or rolled-up towels on the side of the carrier so your baby fits snugly.
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• Once your child’s head becomes higher than the top of the infant car seat, or he goes over the car seat’s maximum height and weight limit, or as soon as he turns one year old, you may use a convertible car seat. You can install this facing front, but it is highly recommended that you still let your child face the rear. Most car accidents happen head-on with other moving vehicles or stationary objects. If you let him face front, there is a higher risk of straining your child’s spine and neck. He may be thrown forward like a rag doll, thereby injuring his arms and legs.
• Make sure that the five-point seatbelt is locked securely and positioned properly. It must go over the shoulders, across the hips, and between the legs.
• A convertible car seat is more convenient because you can use the same seat when your child is ready to sit facing front.
Booster seat
Once your child is big enough, (around five years old), try a booster seat. You can now use the car seatbelt since a booster seat doesn’t require the harness anymore. Make sure that you attach the seatbelt firmly, and that it is secure. A booster seat is used to raise the child to the proper height requirement when wearing the car seatbelt.
Seatbelt positioner
Some parents whose child has outgrown his booster seat yet still has trouble wearing the seatbelt properly like to attach a seatbelt positioner. The purpose of a positioner is to keep the seatbelt away from his face and neck. This may seem like a nifty device, but be warned as this does not have the seal of approval of international road safety organizations.
Make a list, check it twice
• Always double check if the car seat is strapped in properly and locked in place.
• It is advisable that you install the car seat right behind the driver’s seat. Dr. Asis explains, “It is the natural instinct of the driver to protect his side in the event of a car accident.” He adds, “But the best seat you can give your child is the rear middle, away from the doors and windows. Make sure that the safety door locks are engaged and windows are locked. Kids are inquisitive and would want to see what the buttons and latches on the door do.
• “There is no specific brand as to what car seat is best. There are a lot of brands making a lot of claims. Choose one that is within your budget,” advises Dr. Asis.
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Be a defensive driver
Keep in mind that no matter how much you spend on car seats, the number one investment you must acquire is discipline. “When driving with a child in tow, take it easy and give way. It’s not worth getting into any accidents,” says Mika Lagdameo-Martinez, model and mom to Noelle, 6, and Tyler, 2. “You’re in charge of the wheel—whatever you do will affect the safety of your passenger.”
Be a good example to your child. Explain to him the importance of wearing a seatbelt and the possible things that could happen if he doesn’t wear it. Show him that you also wear your seatbelt. “My friend’s five-year-old son flew straight into the windshield. He ended up with stitches on his forehead - all because he wasn’t strapped in,” says Lagdameo-Martinez.
Driving while texting or talking on your cell phone, eating a burger, or applying your makeup can take away your attention from the road. Make sure to pull over before you engage in any of these activities. Lastly, never leave your child alone inside a car—whether the engine is running or you are parked.
Unfortunately, unlike in Western countries, the Philippines has no child passenger safety law. Senate Bill No. 246 on the “Child Safety in Public and Private Motor Vehicles” is still pending approval since 2007. But even without the law, we should start doing things right in our own vehicles.
Photography by Alfred Mendoza
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