By Aurelia Mbokazi-Kashe

Nothing infuriates me more than seeing a child standing inside a moving car while the adult behind the wheel carries on as if nothing is wrong. It’s reckless and heartbreaking— accidents happen in seconds, and too many children are injured because they aren’t properly restrained. As adults, we owe them better. Talking about child safety in cars is a long-overdue conversation. For starters, it is the law that children under three must be securely strapped into a car seat, no exceptions. Yet, as with so many rules in South Africa, enforcement is almost non-existent. Around 93% of motorists, taxis, and buses ignore it completely. Sure, public transport might make it tricky, but if you own a car, there’s simply no excuse for overlooking your child’s safety.

During this year’s Child Passenger Safety Week, an international awareness campaign held from the 19th to the 25th of September, Debbie Billson, Operations Director at Maxi-Cosi, shared a crucial reminder.

“We want to educate South African road users about the dangers of travelling with children who aren’t securely strapped into a car seat,” she says. “Every seat should meet minimum crash-testing standards, and strapping children in must become second nature, no matter how short the trip. It’s time we start having serious conversations about our children’s safety on South Africa’s roads.”

Here are essential and practical tips to help keep your child safe in the car.

Always use a car seat that suits your child’s age and size.
Infants should be in rear-facing seats until at least two years old or until they exceed the seat’s weight limit. Then move to a forward-facing seat with a harness.

Install the car seat correctly every time.
Follow the manufacturer’s manual or ask a certified installer to check it. A loose or
incorrectly fitted seat won’t protect your child properly.

Buckle up before you move, no exceptions.
Even if it’s a short trip, make sure your child is safely strapped in. Accidents can happen within seconds, even close to home.

Keep the car seat in the back.
The safest place for a child under 13 is the back seat — away from airbags that can seriously injure small children during a collision.

Never leave your child unattended in the car.

Even for a minute. Temperatures can rise quickly, leading to heatstroke, dehydration, or worse.

Check seatbelt fit regularly.
As your child grows, adjust the harness or move them to a booster seat so the belt fits snugly across the chest and hips, never the neck or stomach.

Lead by example.
Always buckle up yourself. Children learn by watching, and seeing you take safety
seriously reinforces good habits for life.