- Car Accidents
Driving with a Baby on Board in Fayetteville, GA can be very stressful, and dangerous if the right precautions are not taken. Driving while having a baby in the backseat of your car can be challenging even for the best drivers out there. It can be distracting to make sure they are doing fine as well as focusing on the road. To drive safely with undivided attention, take these 7 safety precautions when driving with a baby.
Use The Right Car Seat:
The ideal car seat for a baby depends on their age; 6 to 12-month-old children have rear-faced seats whereas, for twelve and above, the seats can be rear or forward-facing. By law, children below the age of 7 should sit in the rear seat, thus the baby car seat should never be placed in the passenger seat. It is recommended, for best protection to keep children in a rear-facing car seat till the age of two, or till they have outgrown the seat.
Studies have shown just how important car seats are for children. In-car accidents, these seats reduce fatal injuries by 71% for infants, 54% for children between 1-4, and 45% for children between the age of 4 and 8. Make sure the seat is properly installed, according to the instructions given by the manufacturer, and compatible with the car you have.
Adapt to a New Way of Driving:
Driving alone or with adults is not the same as driving with a baby on board. You have to be alert, quick, and ready for anything unexpected. Your attention is not only on driving and your surroundings, it is on the baby as well. You should keep a safe distance from other cars, to avoid any risks. This gives you a little more time to react to an unforeseen situation, as compared to if you were driving really close to the car in front of you.
Do Not Use Your Phone:
Using your phone while driving is one of the most distracting and dangerous activities. Dividing your attention between the road and the baby is already overwhelming, and if you choose to use your phone then you may forget to focus on what is important. Put your phone on silent or turn it off. If you need to use it for some reason, such as for GPS, park your car in a safe area and then use it. It is common for new parents to forget they have a baby in their backseat, as it is not a part of their routine. You may keep your phone next to the baby, to avoid using it and accidentally forgetting about the baby.
Prepare for the Sun:
Sun exposure can develop burns on infants, especially during the sun’s strongest impact between 10 am to 3 pm. Sunshades for the backseat windows or the one near the baby can help maintain the right temperature as well as prevent the bright sun to wake up or irritate your baby. You may use sunscreens, prescribed by the doctor, or get sunglasses for your baby.
Use a “Baby on Board” Sign:
This sign is placed on the back window of your car to warn other drivers to be careful around your car, not press the horn unnecessarily and reduce their speed. In case of an accident, emergency respondents will be aware of the presence of a baby in the car. When the baby is not on board, remove the sign so that emergency respondents are not misled.
Get a Mirror in the Backseat:
This will allow you to look at your baby, without having to turn around and take off your eyes from the road to see if they are doing fine. You can have a glance, when driving at a low speed or at a traffic signal, to check on them. Do not keep looking in the mirror and distract yourself.
Put On Locks:
An important precaution to take is to activate child locks, window locks in your car, and of course lock all doors. Children tend to play with and press buttons, and there is a risk of windows or doors opening.
Driving with a Baby On Board in Fayetteville, GA is Serious Business:
Driving with a baby on board in Fayetteville, GA can be nerve-racking, but driving safely and taking safety precautions can help you tremendously. Not doing so could result in injuries or even something worse.
In case of a car accident, with your baby, you should contact a Georgia car accident lawyer and get the right legal guidance.
