Children’s safety must never be overlooked—there have been many similar news stories in recent years. Today, let’s share some essential precautions for traveling with kids.
● On July 30, 2016, a family from Chongqing in two cars drove to Qijiang to escape the heat. After getting off the highway, they realized their 3-year-old son, Tongtong, was missing. It turned out everyone assumed he was in the other car, so they drove off. Fortunately, the property management of their residential community saw the child and called the police—otherwise, the consequences could have been dire.
● On February 27, 2016, in Suzhou, Jiangsu, the tailgate of a minivan suddenly opened as the vehicle started moving, causing an infant to roll out onto the ground. The parents drove off without noticing. Luckily, passengers in a following car rescued the baby and returned him to the careless parent.
● On February 8, 2016, Chinese New Year’s Day, in Huai’an, Jiangsu, Mr. Zhu drove his daughter back to Chengdu for the holiday. At the Enshi service area on the Shanghai-Chongqing Expressway, the daughter went to the restroom while Mr. Zhu refueled. He then drove off, leaving her behind at the service area.
● On the evening of July 28, 2015, Ms. Zhou from Chongqing took her 15-year-old daughter to her grandparents’ home in Changshou to escape the heat. Upon arrival, she realized her daughter was missing. It turned out Ms. Zhou had stopped at a highway service area to refuel, and her daughter had gone to the restroom without telling her.
Self-driving travel precautions
1. For groups with multiple vehicles, it’s best to designate one person as the leader to count the number of people in each car before departure. Try to keep the same people in the same car throughout the trip and avoid switching vehicles midway. According to statistics, highway service areas and gas stations are the most common places where children get lost.
2. When a child sits in the back seat with their head sticking out of the window, closing the window could trap their head. Always check the rearview mirror to ensure the child hasn’t put their head out before closing the window.
3. Never leave a child alone in the car. For example, at a highway service area, if parents get out to use the restroom or shop, leaving the child in the car. After turning off the engine, the interior can become extremely hot due to sun exposure, leading to oxygen deprivation or even suffocation.
Children’s body temperatures rise three to five times faster than adults’. According to a warning from the U.S. National Safety Council (NSC): even if the outside temperature is just 21°C, the inside of a car can reach life-threatening temperatures for children within minutes.
4. Kids are naturally curious and might accidentally open the car door while on the road. Before setting off, always check that the child safety lock is engaged.
At the same time, educate your child about safety, teaching them basic knowledge and, more importantly, instilling a strong sense of awareness to prevent accidents before they happen.
5. Avoid sharp objects or toys in the car. How items are arranged inside the vehicle is also crucial. Don’t place hard or dangerous items on the back seat or overhead—these could fall and injure the child during sudden braking.
Also, don’t let children play with sharp toys in the car. Bumps in the road could scratch them, and sudden stops could cause serious injury.
A child safety seat is the most basic safeguard
Always install the safety seat strictly according to the manufacturer’s guidelines, placing it in the back seat of the car. It’s all about being prepared for the worst—never compromise on safety. Especially on highways, a safety seat provides the most direct and effective protection for your child, minimizing accident risks.
Many parents prefer to hold their child in their arms or let them sit on their lap while riding in the car, believing this is the safest method. But in reality, even at low speeds, in the event of sudden braking, this offers no real protection.
Children’s bodies differ significantly from adults’: an adult’s head accounts for about 6% of their body weight, while toddlers aged two or three and six-year-olds have heads that make up 18% and 16% of their body weight, respectively.
If a parent holds a 10-kilogram baby on their lap in the front passenger seat and the car suddenly stops at 55 km/h, the impact force can exceed 300 kilograms—the parent won’t be able to hold onto the child. Moreover, children’s bones are less developed, muscles are weaker, and internal organs are more fragile, all of which mean they need higher levels of protection compared to adults.
So for children, especially infants, who have even less physical resilience, it’s essential to secure more—or different—parts of their body. Multiple harnesses, deformable shields, and rear-facing seating can help meet these requirements. These measures are primarily achieved through proper child safety devices.
So if your child resists sitting in the safety seat, stay firm. Don’t scold—just calmly and repeatedly explain that the car won’t move unless they’re safely buckled in. Either they sit properly and go on the trip, or they get out and stay home. They’ll quickly understand through your actions that the safety seat is non-negotiable.
PS:
When traveling with children, safety comes first above all else.