Buckling Down On Car Safety

Every road is a risk without the proper car safety measures.

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There’s a risk in every journey on the road, but often we take safety within that moving metal box as a given. In June last year, three children aged nine, six, and three were injured in a fatal car accident that took their mother’s life. The eldest was sitting in the front seat, while the youngest was perched on his mother’s lap in the back. Such a tragedy could be avoided if families follow the appropriate traffic safety measures.

According to KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital (KKH), such cases are common. While Singapore may have a reputation for safety, we are astoundingly ignorant of car safety. In an investigation, KKH found that one in two children admitted into their hospital did not have appropriate safety restraints. More shockingly, the report found that 65.7 percent of children under the age of one were travelling without the recommended safety measures.

If you need a refresher, traffic laws state that children under 1.35 metres, regardless of age, need to travel in a car (including car-sharing rides) with a car seat, booster seat or adjustable seatbelts. While taxis are exempted for practicality reasons, children still must ride in the back seat with seatbelts. First-time offenders can be fined up to $1,000 or jailed up to three months. To abide by traffic laws and ensure safe travelling with your precious little ones, you have to be sure to keep some important guidelines in mind.