After all, just because they have more candles on their cake doesn\u2019t mean they should be overlooked.<\/p>\n
Many parents don\u2019t realise that seatbelts are intended for adult use only, said Pieter Niemand, national director of the Motor Industry Workshop Association (MIWA), a proud association of RMI.<\/p>
This is why children should use booster seats until they are between the ages of eight and 12, or measure 1.44 metres and weigh 36kg.<\/p>\n
It is only at this stage that their bones have ossified (knitted together), prior to which point being in an accident can cause even more severe damage.<\/p>\n
How to tell if you\u2019re ready to dispense with that booster?<\/p>\n
\u201cA good rule of thumb is that your child\u2019s legs should be long enough to bend at the seat\u2019s edge, with knees and feet hanging, when she sits against the back of the seat,\u201d Niemand said.<\/p>\n
\u201cLook out, too, for a proper fit, the seatbelt should fit as it does when you wear it, without cutting across the neck and face, or across the thighs.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn other words, the shoulder component must strap snugly across shoulder and chest, while the lap belt is tight enough to avoid sagging across the belly.\u201d<\/p>\n
It\u2019s important to note that the shoulder belt must remain across the upper body at all times.<\/p>\n
Many children find this uncomfortable, and prefer to tuck it under their arms or behind their backs \u2013 but this compromises the protection offered.<\/p>\n
By the same token, said Niemand, seatbelts that comprise a lap belt only should not be considered safe.<\/p>\n
But don\u2019t be tempted to rectify the situation by buying an \u2018add-on\u2019 seatbelt extender.<\/p>\n
Niemand warned that these are not regulated by safety standards, so there\u2019s no guarantee they\u2019re doing the job.<\/p>\n
\u201cA better idea is to have a proper seatbelt retro-fitted.<\/p>\n
\u201cFind a reputable repair workshop, which is a MIWA member, to do the job,\u201d he recommended.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
ALSO READ:<\/span><\/p>\n Deal with vehicle rust issues immediately, advises MIWA<\/a><\/p>\n Car service intervals are there for a reason<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n He added that sharing seatbelts is not safe, either.<\/p>\n Although older children love the importance of sitting in the front seat, this is an absolute no-no, according to Niemand – it\u2019s back seat only.<\/p>\n This ensures that they are further away from the site of impact in case of an accident, especially in view of the fact that most fatal car accidents have a frontal impact.<\/p>\n More than this, sitting in the front inevitably places them in contact with an airbag \u2013 and, again, their bodies are not yet sufficiently developed to handle the force of an unfolding airbag.<\/p>\n Need further convincing?<\/p>\n Because their little bodies are so small and lightweight, it\u2019s very easy for a child to literally fly through the windscreen in case of an accident \u2013 and only 25 per cent of children who experience this survive.<\/p>\n If your child fits into this lucky statistic, chances are high that she will be permanently disabled.<\/p>\n Nor is your lap a suitable replacement for a seatbelt.<\/p>\n Consider this – when travelling, your child\u2019s weight is increased by the speed of travel \u2013 so your 15kg daughter weighs 900kg if you are travelling at 60km\/h.<\/p>\n You may be able to hold onto a 15kg child, but it\u2019s impossible to hold tight to a 900kg weight.<\/p>\n Finally, Niemand issued a reminder that not only is it illegal for any child to forego wearing a seatbelt, but you, as the driver, are legally responsible for any child under the age of 14 who is travelling without a seatbelt.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hav<\/strong>e a story?<\/strong><\/p>\n Contact the newsroom by emailing: Melissa Hart (Editor)\u00a0<\/span>germistoncitynews@caxton.co.za,<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>Leigh Hodgson (News Editor)\u00a0<\/span>leighh@caxton.co.za <\/a><\/strong>or Busi Vilakazi (Journalist) busiv@caxton.co.za.<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n Also follow us on:<\/p>\n
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