At primary school the little ghouls would tell each other scary stories, and one was a variation of "Have you checked the children?" . You know how it goes, the babysitter is alone with the children sleeping upstairs, (so American), the phone rings and a scary voice asks, Have you checked the children?. This results in lots of checking on said children, loads of screaming, numerous scary phone calls and lekker skrik when it turns out the calls are coming from within the house. It's been the basis of many movies and fireside tales of terror.
The remake should revolve around highway signs and flashing billboards at every petrol station, have you checked your children are securely seated in your vehicle?
Even though there is a lot of information about the likelihood of injury to unrestrained children in the event of a car accident, it seems that many people still have not changed their behaviour. According to the Safe Kids worldwide website, 6500 children die each year in car accidents. Behaviour change is difficult to effect as warning messages don't seem to work. Criminalizing such behavior might work in less crime ridden societies, however we have bigger things to worry about then whether Mrs Smith is abusing her child by allowing her to stand on the front seat while shooting off to the shops, don't we. Or we can just see it as part of a general law avoiding mindset that South Africans seem to embrace, laws are for other people.
So for those drivers who are responsible about driving with their children in car seats, there's some good advice on how to use them properly at www.holidayresorts.co.za.
There is a risk of neck and spine injury if child car seats are used incorrectly. Since babies heads are heavy and their neck muscles as yet undeveloped, serious injury can be sustained if the child head rolls forward, or flops around. Safety tips include, using the correct booster seat for the age, size and weight of the child, and securing the seat at a 45 degree angle to ensure head support. Child car seats must be rear facing, in the back seat of the car, and airbags should be deactivated as they can kill small children. Another potential source of injury from an item designed to protect, is from the incorrect use of seatbelts. While the risk of serious injury or death is greater when not wearing a seatbelt at all, proper use is vital to avoid internal injuries. For small children it is important that securing straps are positioned correctly as close to the hips as possible and are not twisted or damaged in any way. Second hand car seats are out, as are any previously involved in accidents. Adult seat belts are also dangerous to small bodies, so a good quality safety approved booster seat, which is properly secured and tested is really the minimum. What is the point of buying cheap, when a childs life depends on the seats quality.
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
New rules of the road.
This list has come out of the fact that clearly the current road rules are too complicated since they are generally ignored. So here's the crib notes to stay alive on the road.
Rule number one, drive with your eyes open, yes, we all want to close our eyes and pray, when it looks like we may crash, but amazingly all round vision improves if you keep them open, stay focussed, and awake. In addition you can exercise your neck by looking around just to check if there are other road users driving with their eyes shut. Just a thought.
Rule number two, you must be able to see over the steering wheel, sorry this is non negotiable. There's nothing more alarming for fellow road users than to be approached at high speed by an apparently driverless vehicle. Get an adjustable seat if particularly short waisted.
Rule number three if you are parked on the road side, it is traditional to check for other vehicles before pulling out. It's a fine distinction but really quite important, check before you go, not after finishing your cell phone call, or in between applying lipstick, or when under the truck you didn't see coming. This leads to rule four. Your car is a public space so save personal hygiene for the privacy of your bathroom. What ever is in your ear, or up your nose is of no interest to other road users, and will be just as fascinating later, in private. Preening is much more enjoyable in the bathroom with lots of candles, and those rearview mirrors are terrible when putting on make up. On this note affection is a wonderful thing but it can go too far, so don't let the excitement get out of hand, unless you want an audience.
Rule number five, unless you are a superhero, with special multitasking superpowers you can't drive and phone, text, or facebook at the same time. Accept it, no one can, there's no shame.
Rule number six, while you may be psychic, no one else is, so sending thoughts to other drivers about your need to stop suddenly really doesn't work, so do try to use that stick on the side of the steering wheel to show what you plan to do next. It is called an indicator for a reason.
Rule seven, big vehicles can do whatever they like. No, silly this is a democracy and everyone has to follow the same rules, so even if you are stupidly rich, incredibly important or criminally talented you can't just ride roughshod over smaller vehicles. Even motorbikes have the right to use the roads. You have to be extra careful to spot those tiny roadusers, and give them extra space. Its only fair.
Rule number eight, stop at four way stops. Even if the guy in front of you is going, it's not your turn yet. Whoever reaches the stop first goes first, not whoever doesn't stop. It's not a race.
Rule number ten, pedestrians carry no points, are people too and may dawdle across the road at any time. You may not run them down, not even if they are drunk. These road rules apply equally to all users, and are effective immediately. To apply for a special exemption send money now.
Rule number one, drive with your eyes open, yes, we all want to close our eyes and pray, when it looks like we may crash, but amazingly all round vision improves if you keep them open, stay focussed, and awake. In addition you can exercise your neck by looking around just to check if there are other road users driving with their eyes shut. Just a thought.
Rule number two, you must be able to see over the steering wheel, sorry this is non negotiable. There's nothing more alarming for fellow road users than to be approached at high speed by an apparently driverless vehicle. Get an adjustable seat if particularly short waisted.
Rule number three if you are parked on the road side, it is traditional to check for other vehicles before pulling out. It's a fine distinction but really quite important, check before you go, not after finishing your cell phone call, or in between applying lipstick, or when under the truck you didn't see coming. This leads to rule four. Your car is a public space so save personal hygiene for the privacy of your bathroom. What ever is in your ear, or up your nose is of no interest to other road users, and will be just as fascinating later, in private. Preening is much more enjoyable in the bathroom with lots of candles, and those rearview mirrors are terrible when putting on make up. On this note affection is a wonderful thing but it can go too far, so don't let the excitement get out of hand, unless you want an audience.
Rule number five, unless you are a superhero, with special multitasking superpowers you can't drive and phone, text, or facebook at the same time. Accept it, no one can, there's no shame.
Rule number six, while you may be psychic, no one else is, so sending thoughts to other drivers about your need to stop suddenly really doesn't work, so do try to use that stick on the side of the steering wheel to show what you plan to do next. It is called an indicator for a reason.
Rule seven, big vehicles can do whatever they like. No, silly this is a democracy and everyone has to follow the same rules, so even if you are stupidly rich, incredibly important or criminally talented you can't just ride roughshod over smaller vehicles. Even motorbikes have the right to use the roads. You have to be extra careful to spot those tiny roadusers, and give them extra space. Its only fair.
Rule number eight, stop at four way stops. Even if the guy in front of you is going, it's not your turn yet. Whoever reaches the stop first goes first, not whoever doesn't stop. It's not a race.
Rule number ten, pedestrians carry no points, are people too and may dawdle across the road at any time. You may not run them down, not even if they are drunk. These road rules apply equally to all users, and are effective immediately. To apply for a special exemption send money now.