Would you ever let your kids ride unrestrained if you were only going down the road or a short distance?

Question

Would you? I've been in cars where parents have allowed there kids to ride unrestrained because they are only going to the shops or somewhere that's a short distance away, ie under 5 miles. I'm curious as I see lot's of people at shops who just bundle their kids in, or if there are two mothers and not enough seatbelts, hold a child unrestrained on her lap? i always buckle my kids up, no matter how far I'm going, but I'm curious to hear the thoughts of others, especially those who choose not to restrain their children

Answer 1

I was a volunteer firefighter/EMT for over 8 years. It is my firm belief that any parent that allows their children to ride in a vehicle with out the proper use of seat belts or car seats should be charged with criminal Child Neglect.

Here's the easiest way to answer your question. Should you get in an accident and you survive but your child didn't because they were not buckled in, could you live with that?

Real Life Example 1: I was called to a scene where a child was killed and the body was pinned in the car as our department had the only 'jaws of life' in the surrounding rural area. This child was pinned under the front seat and would have survived had they been belted in. This accident was less than 5 miles from their home as they were 'just running to the store' when a drunk driver crossed the center line and hit them.

Real Life example 2: I was called to a scene where a family on vacation had crashed into a freeway overpass due to the parent driving going to sleep at the wheel. There were 4 kids in the van along with Mom and another adult. All were seriously injured and one child was ejected from the van. The impact of that child and the concrete posts killed her instantly. She was unbuckled because it wasn't comfortable for her to sleep while buckled in.

Always, always, always wear your seat belt! A 30 mph crash can kill!

Oh.. let me comment on the child in the lap thing... imagine what the adult will feel like when they are told they survived the accident because the now deceased child they were holding in their lap functioned as an effective 'air bag'.

Answer 2

No - Most accidents take place within 20 miles of the house. You are morelikely to get involved in an accident, yet you don't have the kids wear their seatbelts? Makes no sense.

And to the comments made by yl_dooper - you are an idiot. The figures you quote are pure bs. Kids should grow up to be worried about dying because over 43000 people die on the freeways in the US every year. 117 people a day (5 people an hour) die just from driving a car, and they may not have done anything wrong. DRIVING IS DANGEROUS YOU MORON and it is only sensible to do everything to protect yourself reasonably.

Answer 3

I take my 8 year old grandson to school ever day. It is less than 2 miles and I have to take 3 other grandchildren with me and they are all under the age of 3. It takes me 15 to 20 minutes to get them all loaded and buckled into their seats to make the trip but I do it. I have never gone anywhere that they were not buckled into their seats. If I got in an accident around the corner and 1 of them was hurt I would never forgive myself for being lazy.

Answer 4

no i dont think so i am 16 and my mom never ever let me ride with out a seatbelt of buckling me up in my car seat when i was little even if it was just across the parking lot. you never know what could happen from where you are leaving to your next destenation even if you are just in a parking lot. i still wear my seatbelt no matter how far i am going!

Answer 5

Never go even 2 ft with child unrestrained and never leave a child unattended in a car

Answer 6

No, I would not. It's not about how far you're going. It's about the other car on the road ... you know, the one weaving, going too fast, being driven by half-drunk, half-stoned felon-in-progress racing down residential streets at 80mph just ahead of the police, doing stupid stuff with his car 'cause he's seen it on TV and thinks it looks cool. Buckly those kids up. All it takes is one other car and an intersection.

Answer 7

you wuss. your kids are going to grow up just like you scared about every little thing. theyll be the type so cautious theyll forget to live normally.

oh by the way. 40% of accidents where seatbelts where not worn people actually where able to escape a serious case.

Answer 8

Never. You could be the best driver in the world, but theres always some idiot who drives like a nutter. They are the ones who would cause a crash

Answer 9

"i bit two children at the different bus and peed in someones bookbag like three occasions however are you able to blame me i needed to pee quite dangerous and the ones two children shouldnt have placed their hand in my mouth. so can any person please inform me why i must experience a brief bus now. i'm a well woman in institution. and i've like 7 peers that is ALOT. i'm very intelligent i am getting directly Ds" ^ there is your reply.

Answer 10

No, insure safety first. Accident comes when we least expected it. Do not be caught in a suprise and regret it later. Be safe all the time.