Driving a car when there are children on board calls for special attention and safe practices. Children must be properly buckled in and objects well stowed. Safe driving is a question of common sense.
The first time you place your newborn in the car seat and head out onto the road, you will drive more carefully. It's normal, because you have a new responsibility in your life.
Despite all this caution, a child can be a great source of distraction. You may hear your child babble and the temptation to look at him or her in the rearview mirror is strong. But don't indulge and keep your eyes on the road. Your rearview mirror is meant to let you see what is going on around you, not watch your child.
We recommend, as does Transport Canada, that you seat children aged 12 and younger in the back seat. This is the safest place for them in a vehicle, since they are seated as far away as possible from the points of impact in the event of a head-on collision.
In the event of a traffic accident, if you are all properly buckled in, your risk of being injured decreases. You can also increase your safety by correctly stowing your children's accessories and your own.
In case of impact, objects that haven't been secured or stowed become dangerous projectiles. Make sure that there are no loose objects on the dashboard, unoccupied seats or under the vehicle's rear window.
Many accidents occur near the home, and more than half occur in zones with a speed limit of 50 km/h or less. Just because you are driving in an area you know well doesn't guarantee that an accident won't happen.
Last update: May 19, 2022
