Helmond (NL), 26 July 2010. Motorways across Europe will be packed on the weekend of 31 July. More than four million people have planned a road trip this summer. This usually results in a good deal of stress in ensuring a safe and trouble-free holiday by car. Every week, 10 children die in traffic-related accidents in Europe and another 1,150 are injured. Fatigue, weather conditions and distractions by children in the back seat are the most common causes of accidents and near accidents. Many parents are less than enthusiastic about driving to their holiday destination as a result. How long can my child sit in his or her car seat? What should I take for along the way and how can I be sure to transport my child safely? Maxi-Cosi has put together the following 10 tips to help ensure a safe and successful road trip with children.
1. Buy a safe child car seat
Buy a safe car seat with instructions in English. Read through the results of studies conducted by consumer and automotive touring organisations into car seat safety.
2. Have children up to 1.5 m in height use a car seat
Contrary to common belief, it is also important for reasons of safety that older children sit in an approved car seat while in the car. Car seats are available for every weight category. European law dictates that all children up to a height of 1.5 metres must be transported in a car seat. For older children, booster seats with a fixed backrest offer the best side support and protection. Booster seats without a fixed backrest increase the risk of injury to such a large degree that the Royal Dutch Touring Club and Consumers’ Association strongly advise against this type of car seat and no longer test it.
3. Pay attention to side protection
Car seats that offer extra side protection are preferable, given that 25 percent of all collisions last year were side impact crashes. For older children (ages 3½ to 12 years, weight category of 15 to 36 kg) Maxi-Cosi recommends a car seat with the AirProtect ® feature. This innovative safety technology reduces the child’s chance of head injury by no less than 20 percent.
4. Your baby deserves just as much comfort as you
If you are planning a long road trip, there is no reason for this to be problematic for your baby. It is often said that babies should not spend more than two hours a day in a car seat. But this limit is more of a guideline to prevent excessive daily use. If a child occasionally sits in a car seat for longer periods of time, such as during a road trip, this will not have any negative health effects. Naturally it is pleasant for both you and your child to take regular breaks. Make sure to remove your child from the car seat when taking a break.
5. Pay attention to certification
Whether you are buying an infant car seat or a booster seat, always make sure that it complies with the most recent European safety requirements. This can usually be seen by the ECE R44/04 mark label. This label indicates that the seat meets the minimum safety requirements. If you are interested in finding out which seat offers the most safety, user-friendliness and/or comfort, see the test results of consumer and automotive touring organisations.
6. Bring your car when buying a car seat
Always have the salesperson explain in detail how the seat should be installed and used. Bring your car to the shop when buying a car seat and make sure the seat can be properly installed in it. It is important that the seat be installed as securely as possible in the car.
7. Pay attention to the weight category
Never buy a car seat that allows for growth. Make sure it is suitable for your child’s weight from day one. The weight category is stated on the certification label. The age group is also often indicated, but since children have very different weights, this should only be viewed as an indication.
8. Avoid second-hand car seats
As tempting as it may be, it is never wise to buy or use a second-hand car seat. Car seats can become irreparably damaged and therefore unsafe after being involved in a collision, even if no damage is visible on the outside.
9. Make sure to install the seat correctly
Studies have shown that no fewer than 70% to 80% of parents with young children install their car seat incorrectly. Check to make sure the harnesses on the car seat can be opened, fastened and adjusted easily. Car seats for babies (up to 13 kg in weight) must be placed in a rear-facing position. Incorrect installation usually applies to how the seat is secured in the car. The seat must be installed securely to be safe. Make sure the harnesses and belts are tightened securely and not twisted and that the buckle is not jammed.
10. Front or back seat equally as acceptable
If your child is sitting in an approved car seat, it does not matter in the eyes of the law whether the seat is installed in the front or back seat. The advantage to having a baby on the front seat is that you can keep a better eye on him or her. It is also comforting for babies to know that you are close by. Just make sure that you do not become distracted. If the seat of the car is equipped with an airbag, it must be switched off prior to installing the car seat.