Safety In and Around Vehicles

SAFETY CORNER

Safety In and Around Vehicles

By Weston District Fire Chief Todd Draizin

Road and traffic safety includes considerations for people of all ages. Parents and caregivers need to understand how to keep their families safe in and around vehicles. Florida law requires the use of seat belts for drivers, front-seat passengers, and all children riding in a car under age 18. Florida law also requires children age five and under be secured correctly in a crashtested, federally approved child restraint device or car seat. Children under age 12 should only ride in the back seat since deployed front seat airbags may be dangerous to children. Parents can model safe driving behaviors that can help set positive examples and rules for teen drivers.

Traffic crashes are estimated to be the eighth leading cause of death for people of all ages and are the leading cause of preventable injuries and deaths among teenagers and children in the United States. Studies show that teens are 3X more likely to be involved in traffic crashes, with most teen crashes resulting from driver distractions and speeding. As teens approach driving age, parents should establish safe driving rules that include distraction-free driving, not allowing extra passengers, following speed limits, no impaired driving, and always wearing a seat belt. Parents or Caregivers of teen drivers should also be aware of Florida’s Graduated Driver’s License Laws, which include driving age, time, and passenger restrictions. For more information on teen driver safety, join the BSOFR Public Education Team for their virtual education presentation Teen Driver Safety on March 18th at 3:00 pm. Registration is free, and service hours are available for teen participants. Registration is open at https:// BSOFireRescuePublicEducation.as.me/.

Correctly used child safety seats can further reduce the risk of child deaths by 71 percent. More than half of the car seats purchased are not being used or are installed incorrectly. Selecting the right car seat, using it in the correct direction and location in the vehicle, and properly installing it are essential considerations for parents. The Broward Sheriff’s Office Fire Rescue (BSOFR) Public Education Team of Certified Child Passenger Safety Technicians can assist parents/caregivers with car seat installations. Virtual car seat appointments are available online at https:// BSOFireRescuePublicEducation.as.me/.

Another important safety consideration for parents of small children is making sure to never leave a child alone in a car. On average, every ten days, a child dies from heatstroke in a vehicle. In more than 50% of these deaths, the caregiver forgot the child was in the car. Create reminders to help you remember your child is in the car. Be sure to lock car doors when the vehicle is not in use and set rules to ensure that children do not play in or around cars, including parked cars.

Additional considerations may be needed to ensure that drivers are appropriately fitted to their vehicles as we age. Car Fit is an educational program designed by AARP, AAA, and the American Occupational Therapy Association that provides a comprehensive review of how well a person and their vehicle work together to enhance driver safety and mobility. Car Fit helps people explore and make vehicle adjustments to achieve their safest fit. The BSOFR Public Education Team will host a virtual Car Fit presentation on March 30th at 2:00pm. To register for this free, virtual presentation, please visit https:// BSOFireRescuePublicEducation.as.me/.

Our vehicles are an essential part of how we lead our everyday lives; therefore, it’s important to understand the risks, needs, and safety considerations for people of all ages to help families stay safe in and around vehicles. Join the BSOFR Public Education Team for one of their March safety education presentations, Safety in and Around Vehicles, on March 11th and 16th to learn how to keep your family safe. Registration is free and available at https:// BSOFireRescuePublicEducation.as.me/.

⊲ For more information, please contact District

Chief Todd Draizin at Weston Fire Station #81 at 954-389-2015 or by email at

Todd_Draizin@Sheriff.org.