Keeping Your Child Safe in the Car

Keeping your family safe is important to you. That’s one of the reasons you bought a Subaru. Every vehicle in the Subaru lineup has earned a Top Safety Pick rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety for six years straight. Subaru is the only auto manufacturer that can make that claim. But sometimes it takes more than just owning a safe vehicle to ensure that your kids stay safe. Here are some tips for keeping your child safe in the car.

•  Seatbelts are a must. You should never start driving until everyone is wearing a seatbelt. Teaching children to get in the habit of wearing a seatbelt will encourage them to buckle up for the rest of their lives.
• Turn on child safety locks. There's typically a switch on the inside of the door that activates the child safety lock feature. This will prevent children from opening the door from the inside of the vehicle.
•  Never leave your child unattended in a car, especially in the summer or when it's hot outside. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), heatstroke is the leading cause of vehicle-related deaths not caused by crashes in children under the age of 14. Bring your child with you, even if you’'e only planning on stepping in the store for a few minutes.
•  Keep automatic windows locked. Who doesn't love playing with the windows? While it may be fun, it can also be dangerous. With the push of a button, the driver can have complete control over power windows in most new vehicles. This prevents children from getting injured by playing with automatic windows.
•  Choosing the right car seat is extremely important. According to the NHTSA, children under the age of one should always be in a rear-facing car seat. After that, size and weight requirements will determine the need for a rear-facing car seat, front-facing car seat, or a booster seat. Always be sure to install a car seat based on the manufacturer instructions. Children should be in a booster seat until the adult seat belt fits them properly. Children should remain in the backseat until the age of 12.
• Be sure to monitor your kids throughout the course of your drive. Make sure they are seated and safely buckled up. By keeping an eye on your kids, you can help prevent injuries or accidents.