Have you childproofed your car yet? Do it before taking your kids out for a drive

Car seats and seat belts are two popular safety measures that are effective in preventing accidents and are also required by law in most countries. While these safety measures are a step in the right direction, more can be done to ensure that cars are made safe and childproof, whether in a parked position or while on the road.

Here are a few tips to childproof your car:

Childproof door locks

Most cars have the option to enable child locks, which prevent children from opening car doors from inside the vehicle. This is especially useful when young children are active and eager to open the car door when the vehicle is moving or, as soon as the car is parked.

With a childproof door lock, your child will have to wait until you have disarmed the lock and can oversee their safe exit from the vehicle. Check your car's manual to find out how the door locks can be enabled. If they are not installed, contact your car manufacturer for more information.

Childproof window locks

Locking the windows is another way to ensure that children are safe, whether the car is parked or locked. This will stop them from opening the windows and attempting to climb out. Driver-controlled window locks will also prevent them from trying to open the windows on their own throwing items at passing vehicles or on the road.

Don't let objects be strewn around

Both small and large objects in the car could be potential choking or health hazards for toddlers and babies. Remove any loose items from the vehicle to ensure that injuries are reduced during an accident. Also, ensure that you do not keep hazardous items such as car cleaner liquid or windshield wiper fluids, within the reach of the children.

Make sure foldable seats are locked into position

Children are adventurous and will try new things. A foldable back seat that is not locked could harm your child or allow them to crawl into the trunk of the car. This can make children vulnerable to injuries, especially in a moving vehicle, when you are unable to assist immediately.

Keep keys out of reach

This is a safety measure to ensure that the vehicle's operations are inaccessible to children. Additionally, make sure to remove the keys even when parked you never know when a curious hand will try to press a button or try to put the car into gear! Keep kids away from the dashboard and educate them about the dangers of playing with controls in a parked car.

Fasten unused seatbelts

Buckle any unused seatbelts and pull tight. This will remove the potential strangulation danger of unused seatbelts, especially if you have younger children, who love fidgeting with things. Check your car manual to find out about securing unused seatbelts for your car model or, search online for ideas.

Add a bathroom rug

Thin bathroom rugs can be used to catch spills and crumbs if children are eating and drinking in the car. Simply cut holes for the seatbelts and place the rug over the car's upholstery and under a safety seat for an extra layer of sticky finger prevention. Older towels can also be used. Make sure that the car seat is still stable and secure. You can also use commercial car seat protectors.

Use organizers in the car

You will want to have some handy items in the car for longer rides and sticking everything in the cubby hole is not always an option. A plastic organizer or remote control holder that hangs behind the front seats will be useful. It can be used to keep supplies such as wet wipes and sippers. You can also store some toys to keep the children busy while you drive.

Be a responsible driver

Being a responsible driver is the best way to childproof your car and ensure the safety of all occupants. Abiding by speed limits, avoiding alcohol and drug consumption before or during driving, and putting away your cell phone, are important measures to help keep the roads safe. Enforce seatbelt use for all passengers and pay attention to traffic and potential hazards on the road and in the car.