You Won't See Me- Preventing Traffic Tragedies Begins at Home

Bear Behind

Whenever we're doing a child safety seat inspection event and finish up with a family, before they even start their vehicle we yell out CAR MOVING. This emphatic utterance alerts all others in the area to stop what they're doing, look around for children and keep them far from the moving vehicle's path. Kids are quick, kids are tiny, kids are trusting, kids don't see danger; that's our job as adults.

This is the time of year when parents call me asking about child safety seat inspections because their family will soon set out on a far flung journey in their internal combustion vehicle. They'll be traveling the freeways of the United States (the safest roadways around), and so sometime before this event they'd like to review the safety of their children. Of course, their children are at their greatest peril each day playing in their own driveway and being transported around their own neighborhood.

In 2007, 5,000 kids in the US were injured by the family car right in their own driveway or in a parking lot, and over 200 of those kids were whacked dead. How ridiculous is that? And, how quickly does that event change a family's life forever?

Make the driveway a place for moving cars and do not allow it to be used for play. And, the street, no matter what the speed limit sign says or how many warning signs are in place, is a place for cars and not kids.

Take the time (it won't take long, I promise) to walk around your car and make sure the area is clear of kids, toys, pets, shopping carts and me, no matter where your journey begins.

Remember that the #1 way to injure or kill a child is with a motor vehicle. And, that these injuries and deaths happen right around home. That's where we live, and that's where we drive: every day.

Be Safe.

More New Occupant Protection Advocates for Michigan

Behold a new graduating class of Child Passenger Safety Technicians freshly baked in Lansing last week. I (the guy showing my legs in the front row) had the privilege of spending four days with an excellent group of instructors and an equally excellent group of passionate students.

If you see any of our grads in your neighborhoods, my advice to you is to not call them child seat inspectors. Yes, that's exactly what they showed up thinking that they were going to become last week, but what they really ended up becoming were occupant protection advocates. Ask 'em about the safety of your traveling family and you'll receive kind and thorough education about crash dynamics, the safety features of your vehicle and how to protect everyone that's riding in the family car.

What's it take to prepare a group like this? Simple, all you need is a heap of child seats (a BIG heap), trained and certified instructors, lots of support materials, a variety of cars and a week to navigate through a 460 page curriculum. Most importantly, you need a room full of students that have a passion for occupant protection and a desire to educate families. Fortunately you see just such a group listening to fellow instructor Sgt. Don Morris in this photo.

Want to find one of these advocates to help your family? Go to www.safekids.org and you can search for the technician closest to you. They'll be happy to take your call and make an appointment. I'm honored to have spent the week with them.

Be safe.