Tag Archives: car safety

Congress Could Require Car Alarm for Kids Left Inside

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Every year, children who are left inside hot cars die. These are preventable deaths. The HOT CARS Act, which would require vehicles to have an alarm that reminds parents to check the back seat for kids. The U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, & Transportation introduced the HOT CARS Act. The full name is “Helping Overcome Trauma for Children Alone in the Rear Seat (HOT CARS) Act of 2019.” The purpose of the legislation is to prevent heat stroke-related deaths due to children being left alone in a vehicle. HOT CARS would lead to lifesaving technology and increased public awareness of … Continue reading →

Warm Weather Car Safety

Depending on where you live, winter can be long, depressing, and, let’s face it, cold. When warm weather arrives, many of us can hardly wait to get outside. There are parks to visit, playgrounds to explore, and beaches to comb. And yet, with all the fun surrounding warm-weather outings, some precautions need to be taken when traveling with a baby. Before you even place your child in the car, check the car seat, especially any metal buckles or other metal parts. These can get extremely hot during a warm day, especially if they are in the direct sunlight. The last … Continue reading →

Buckle Up: It’s MY Law

“Is everyone buckled?” I can’t even count how many times my mom asked that question before pulling out of the driveway or parking lot. She often didn’t even start the car until all of our buckles were latched. You’d think that with all the statistics out there on how many lives are saved by wearing seat belts, people would buckle up without a thought. Heck, even if they don’t care about saving their lives, you’d think people would buckle up to avoid getting a hefty ticket. Prior to having a baby, my husband and I always buckled; however, we didn’t … Continue reading →

Why Toddlers and Jeeps Don’t Mix

Earlier this week a father driving a Jeep made a U-turn. Unfortunately, his 2-year-old son did not. According to reports, the toddler, who was strapped inside his carseat, which was placed in the back of the Jeep, flew out of the vehicle when the dad executed the turn. Fortunately (or should I say miraculously), the little boy did not suffer life-threatening injuries, at least according to a fire battalion chief in Wisconsin, who happened to witness the entire incident unfold right before his eyes. Chief Matt Haerter told local reporters that he saw the boy fly out of the Jeep … Continue reading →

Car Thieves Give Me A Break

I considered titling this blog: “My Spring Break Travel Woes,” but decided to save it for a future posting. We just returned from a spring break that was… well; let’s just say I learned many valuable travel lessons in last two weeks. For example, when borrowing a relative’s vehicle (that doesn’t have keyless entry) it’s a good idea to place the key in your purse or pocket before heading into the mall. Last week in a flurry of activity of getting kids unbuckled, out of the way of oncoming traffic, and into a mall I was unfamiliar with (during an … Continue reading →

“Mom, I need the car keys.” The ADHD Teenager & Driving

As a mom of teenagers, I soon face the dilemma of sharing the car keys. It’s a scary thing to think about. In just a few months, I’ll be able to watch my oldest child get into a vehicle and drive down the street. Yikes! I can already imagine the thoughts I’ll be grappling with… ”Will he remember to drive responsibly? Is he going to be distracted? Will he come back home, safe and sound?” As parents, we have very good reason to be concerned. The scary reality is that vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death among youth … Continue reading →

Newer Testing Standards for Car Safety

Newer scoring system may make vehicle safety comparisons simpler for consumers… Cars are generally safety tested in a variety of separate categories and rated accordingly. Testing done by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration typically includes separate trials for front and side-impact crashes as well as rollover resistance, rating each vehicle one to five stars for each category. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, on the other hand, has developed a process that combines testing in front and side-impact crashes and head restraint during a crash. It does not designate a rating for each individual test, but instead gives an … Continue reading →