There is this report by a news agency on this very blog about how kids should be made to sit in a rear-facing car seat till they are four years of age. Now, this is contrary to what most parents do, that is start using front-facing car seats for their children as soon as they turn one.
According to this study that was conducted in the UK, it is far safer to have small children facing the other way – that is looking at the path they have traversed and not where they are going. Because statistics say, as per the researchers, this would protect them better in case of a crash.
This observation should be treated with utmost importance because nothing matters more than the safety of our children. However, I have seen many parents who choose to either be ignorant or consider themselves too clever and therefore, go against all norms of safety towards their little ones.
When I was in the Middle East, I have seen fathers driving with their small children seated in the lap! At one glance, you think it is the baby driving and then notice the bulky figure on whose lap the child is seated! One year olds! Little ones!
It was an appalling sight and, believe me, I have never felt so disgusted in my life! And angry! How can parents be so callous? And it is not that the traffic laws are lax in those countries. In this particular Gulf country I was in, traffic rules are very stringent and the authorities are pretty strict. And it is punishable by law if small children are caught sitting in the front seat. However, I don’t remember rules about insisting on car seats for children. So, you would find kids sitting sprawled in the back seat or even hanging out the windows.
But sitting on the driver’s lap? Now that is some thing else!
As parents, we have to really understand that our primary concern should be the safety of our children, who are helpless and depend on us for their wellbeing. Therefore, if experts think we should sit our kids in rear-facing car seats till they are four years of age, then so be it. That should become a rule with us.
What do you think?