There are times you need to travel together with your small children. Whether you’re visiting a relative or going out for a weekend vacation, it’s important that you keep yourself and your children safe while on the road.
But sometimes children may not behave the way you want them to, and they could get hurt while inside the vehicle. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) said that children could get hurt from the vehicle’s power windows and have offered some ways for you to prevent it.
1. Activate the switch to lock the windows.
This is the most convenient way to prevent your kids from playing power window switches. Recent vehicle models, including those sold in used car dealerships in Bradenton, are likely equipped with such technologies.
2. Educate children with power window safety.
Tell your children what could happen to them if they play with power window switches and advise them to refrain from getting near the switches. Kids often get injured if their body parts are stuck by an accidentally closing power window.
3. Infants and toddlers should be properly restrained in a car seat.
Not only is this required by law, but it could also prevent the child from reaching the window switch. It’s also important that you check your child whenever you need to activate the window on their side.
4. Don’t leave your children.
By all means, don’t leave your children alone inside the vehicle mostly if the engine is running. Disaster awaits if children play inside the car while the engine is running.
For further power window safety, you may want to check your vehicle owner’s manual on how your power windows work. In newer vehicle models, switches are often pulled to close the window to prevent children from getting stuck if they accidentally put weight on the window switch.
High-end vehicles, on the other hand, may have auto-reversing windows when it senses obstructions.