If you are a new parent, you might have considered getting one of those stickers to put on the back of your car. The ones that warn everyone you have a baby on board.
It is unlikely that many drivers will slow down or give you extra space when they see this. You might even find some get wound up by them and drive more aggressively around you.
Keeping your child safe in the car comes down to you
Rather than trying to change other drivers’ behavior, the best way to protect your kids is to change your behavior. Here are some steps you can take:
- Drive slower: Your body is more robust than your baby’s. You can survive impacts that they cannot. By slowing down, you reduce the forces of any potential crash. It’s like walking into a wall as opposed to running full pelt at it.
- Allow more time: Everything takes longer when you have a baby. Allocate time to prepare before setting off. If your child is well-fed and entertained, there is less chance they will distract you when driving. If you allow extra time to reach your destination, you can afford to pull over when you need to attend to their needs, rather than trying to do it while moving.
- Accept when you are too tired to drive: If your baby keeps you up all night, it will reduce your ability to drive safely the following day. Bundling your baby in a car while bleary-eyed endangers you and them. Consider canceling trips if staying awake and focused will be challenging.
- Maintain more distance: Try to keep a safety cushion of space around your vehicle. It gives you more time to react in an emergency.
You can only do so much to protect your baby from a car crash. If one does occur, switch your attention to securing compensation to protect them from the consequences.