BURRILLVILLE – When it comes to pickup trucks, there are a set of different approaches to making sure little kids are safely restrained while traveling to your destinations.
Single-seated vehicles obviously do not have rear seats for a child to be properly restrained while riding in trucks. If a truck has dashboard airbags, they should be turned off whenever a young child is riding in the passenger seat. The airbags impact, if deployed, could harm a younger child. Check your manufacturer manual for instructions if necessary to do so. This may not apply to all trucks.
If you have an infant riding in your truck, make sure that they are properly restrained in a rear-facing car seat. Follow proper installation instructions when securing a car seat inside a truck. If you have any questions regarding the proper installation of a rear-facing car seat, your local police department could assist you in that procedure if they have a certified car seat installer and inspector. Call your community police department prior to having your car seat checked to make sure that they have a certified car seat installer and inspector available. Due to staffing issues, not all police departments have one of these police officers in their department. The Rhode Island State Police do have certified car seat installers and inspectors on the force. It’s best to reach out prior to having this done and making an appointment is best for everyone involved.
Make sure little kids do not ride in the bed of pickup trucks at any time. It’s not safe for any children, teenagers or even adults. Children should always be properly restrained while riding in trucks. Booster seats and seatbelts help prevent unintentional injuries and could potentially save young lives. Children should always be properly restrained, especially while riding in trucks. Without a backseat, the risk is much higher that a child could be hurt if involved in a vehicle crash while riding in trucks.
This week’s Sunday feature has some very cool trucks for kids to color in and, when finished, display on the family refrigerator to remind family members and friends to buckle up for safety.
