Making Cars Safe for Kids
Posted by
Michael GreeneDecember 03, 2008 5:08 PMThere is no question that we all love our children. They are our legacy to the future. We give birth to them, raise and nurture them and hope as we send them out into the world, that they will grow up safe and strong.
In a recent November 2008 article in "Trial", Stuart Ollanik questions our commitment to auto safety.
He states,
"When it comes to auto safety, children take
a backseat. Our society claims to value
its children above all else, but fails to
protect them from an epidemic of automobile
related deaths and injuries."
The article goes on to point out, that while auto makers claim that "child safety" is their highest priority, the many "lawsuits brought by injured consumers across the country reveal another story."
The truth, Mr. Ollanik says is that children are never first, but rather, are an after thought, which he says is a national disgrace. Finally, the article states that although consumer behavior has been positive, "the equipment side of the coin is not so shiny."
As one example he cites that, in 1998,
"all new cars were required to have airbags for
both frontseats. But auto safety researchers
knows that fully-powered airbags, could pose a
danger to children."
Mr. Ollanik concludes that only through new simplified educational materials, new state laws and incentives by auto makers, and a renewed vigilance by all parties, can we ensure that our children’s safety will come first.