There are certain times of the year every family hits the road to visit friends and family. And right now, we’re in prime traveling season.
Before each trip we, at least many of us, make check lists of the items we need to take to make our trip as comfortable as possible. If you have smaller children, then you certainly know the importance of bringing along whatever can keep them occupied on those long road trips. When you’re piling your children into whatever vehicle you own, such as the 2016 BMW x535d SAV AWD, found here at BMW of Peabody, or any other model you have, you’ll also want to remember some basic safety tips in addition to your inventory of sundries you’ll be taking – especially if your children are still riding in a car seat.
Here are a few reminders for car seat safety:
- Always use the “Inch Test” and the “Pinch Test”. Pinch the car seat strap near the child’s shoulder; if you can pinch a wrinkle in the fabric, tighten the strap until it is snug. For the “Inch Test,” grab the car seat from the back and bottom and tug from side to side and front to back. If the seat moves more than an inch in either direction, tighten it.
- Never add towels or extra layers between the seat and your child. Extra material could interfere with the seat’s ability to restrain the child in the event of a crash.
- Take time to cool off; then buckle up. If the car seat is hot because of high summer temperatures, take some extra time to cool the car down before placing your child in the seat. Never leave children alone in the car, especially in the summer, when temperatures can escalate dangerously in a matter of minutes.
- Don’t rent a car seat. When you rent a seat you don’t know important facts about its history that could affect its ability to protect yours.
- Secure loose items in the car. These objects could become projectiles in the event of a crash.
