What kids must know about buckling up when travelling

DO YOU ever argue with your parents or anyone else who tells you not to sit in the front seat, or who tells you to buckle up? Or who insists that you stop playing with car doors? If so, we will explain why.

Oratile Serapelo, 11, said that she was aware that she should not sit in the front seat of a moving car and that she should always wear her seatbelt while in the car.

“Also, as kids, we must not open the door while the car is moving and throw things through the windows,” said Oratile.

South Africa is celebrating its seventh year of Child Passenger Safety Week. Officially, it is an important awareness drive to make sure that children are safe whenever they get in a car.

Debbie Billson, a leading car seat expert in South Africa, said that they were trying to get people talking about how important it is for children to be safe.

“Our aim is to raise awareness about the importance of our children’s safety in motor vehicles,” said Billson.

She said they aimed to educate and alert South African road users about the dangers of driving with children not safely buckled into a car seat.

“This, as well as ensuring the car seat they use has undergone the minimum crash testing required,” she said.

This year’ theme, “Love Clicked In”, promotes the idea that your parents putting you in a car seat is a caring and act focused on your safety.

Here is some safety advice given by Mohammed Kaka, who is also a safety expert.

Kaka said that the following ideas are not just for babies, but also for older children.

He encourages you to put their head comfortably on the headrest of the booster seat, which will protect your

neck.

“Sit in the back seat; it’s much safer than the front, and every time you get into a car, make sure you’re buckled in with a working seatbelt,” said Kaka.

If your parents or anyone else directs you to sit in the back, do so – they know better, but from reading above you also know now.

In addition, you are advised to wait until you can properly fit in an adult seatbelt, which is usually when you reach a height of 150cm and are between the ages of 4 and 12 years.

Supplied EVERY time you get into a car, you must be safely buckled up with a working seatbelt. |