Most drivers are too focused on the road and may overlook other passengers' safety. If you must drive with children often, these tips by Tiger Synthetics in Zachary on how to keep your child safe when driving.

A synthetic oil change is one of the most effective ways to care for your car. Visit Tiger Synthetics in Zachary at (225) 654-5145 to contact an official AMSOIL dealer in your area.

Modern Safety Measures

Almost every car has airbags today, and these are designed to safeguard adults from potential harm during a car accident. These devices are too treacherous when it comes to children, mainly because of their fragile frame, size, and weight. It's even riskier if you allow them to sit in the front seat. Therefore, it's imperative for your child's safety to never let them ride shotgun until they turn 13 years old. But, there are some exceptions; For instance, if a teen over the age of 13 is rather smallish for their age, it is still not recommended for them to ride shotgun.

The Backseat Was Designed to Take Younger Passengers

The latter means the seat belt in the back row is intended to reduce the risk of crash death. If a child is in the front seat in a head-on collision, the most common and deadly type of car crash, they can be thrown against the car's dashboard or even through the windshield. Riding shotgun is just dangerous for children and teenagers alike. Below, you'll find some pointers concerning the dangers that children traveling in the car can be exposed to, plus some tips on the correct use of safety seats according to the child's age that you need to know.

Potential Risks of Riding in the Front Seat

Automobile factories generally conceive airbags to shield an adult of average height and weight of about 150 pounds. So, children are more prone to get hurt by an airbag than adults, even if they wear their seat belts right when hanging in the front seat. Passenger airbags inflate with such force that they can cause severe head and neck injuries to a child. This motion is due to the quick deployment of the airbag in 1/20th of a second. In short, these devices discharge a considerable amount of power to unfold and do the job as quickly as possible; they spread at a pace faster than 150 miles per hour! So, with that scenario in mind, a smaller and lighter frame won't endure the blow or come out of the situation unscathed as an adult would. Airbags have killed many children in recent years. These deaths occurred in low-speed collisions that should have been minor inconveniences but ended in a tragedy that the adults in charge could have prevented.

Visit AMSOIL’s online store or contact Tiger Synthetics in Zachary if you’re looking for an authorized AMSOIL dealer. Call (225) 654-5145 to learn the benefits of giving your vehicle a synthetic oil change.

Place the Baby Seat in a Safe Spot

To keep your child safe when driving, you should never place the travel car seat in the passenger seat as it leaves the baby in a vulnerable position and runs the risk of an airbag deploying and hurting them in an accident. Remember, the back of their seat is too close to the dashboard. Also, children riding shotgun can be potentially exposed to cranium injuries due to the airbag's impact and be subjected to the airbag's capacity to swipe them off the seat and get slammed on the top of the vehicle.

If Your Child Is Old Enough to Leave Their Mounted Seat

When your child is old enough to get out of their travel car seat, opt for sitting them in the most secure place in the vehicle: the center of the rear seat with three seat belts to match.

When Your Child Is Old Enough to Ride Shotgun

Parents can keep children safe when driving and further protect them from injury by taking the following steps:

• Have them sit far back or keep them away from the airbag's deployment reach. The majority of car accidents impact the front of the vehicle, causing minor damage to the rear area.
• Have your child wear a seat belt. Indicate that their back needs to rest against the seat while remaining away from the dashboard. The seat belt must cross the upper part of the chest, not the neck. Don't forget that the lap belt should lie across and not across the stomach.

Lastly, remember that the most important thing is to make sure your loved ones are always protected and arrive at their destination safely and sound whenever you head out and use the car.

Maintaining your car in good condition equals keeping your child safe when driving. If you need a hand in improving your car's maintenance, call Tiger Synthetics in Zachary at (225) 654-5145 if you need help finding the right products for your oil change. You can also find products like AMSOIL’s Signature Series 0W-20 Synthetic Motor Oil by visiting their online shop if your car needs a synthetic oil change.