Keep our big kids boostered

WHY is it that driving in winter always feels more dangerous than at other times?

Easy — the ice, the frost, the snow, or the torrential rain all pose a potential threat to safe driving conditions. And let’s not even talk about that sunstrike while the sun is sitting lower in the sky!

In 2018, the road toll is going to be into the 200s, and a significant number of those are children. This is totally unnecessary, and one of the big things we can do as parents is to keep our children in car seats and boosters.

Our big kids are suffering on the roads because they are being moved to the adult seat belt too early.

The law versus safety in New Zealand is a constant debate in the carseat world. Legally, from the age of 7, children do not have to be seated in an approved suitable car restraint any more. However, safetywise they should be in a booster until they are 148cm, which is most average 10 to 12yearolds.

The adult seat is designed to work on the three strong points of our body: the pelvis and the shoulder. This is to protect the internal organs from damage during a crash. A child less than 148cm will generally find that the adult seat belt sits high on the stomach and close to the neck. This makes travel uncomfortable and crashes potentially fatal.

So let’s keep our big kids in seats! Remember, when we know better we do better, so ensure you are informed before any change in your children’s car seats. We only get one chance.