Historical June 1980 child-restraint advice, reproduced as an archival source. These period recommendations are not current safety guidance.
It is essential that your children be restrained every time they travel, even if only riding a few blocks to the store. Especially designed safety seats for use by the very young child are ideal, but if you don’t have such a safety seat, a standard seat belt can be used, even for small children.
While not ideal, it is safer than permitting little ones to ride unrestrained in the car. Auto accidents are the leading killer of children between the ages of one and fourteen. Most fatalities occur within 20 miles of home. Can we leave the decision of safety belts up to them or is that an adult decision to be made?
To help your child accept the safety belts, use your imagination to make a car seat part of the fun of traveling, and let your children know that you won’t start the car until they are restrained. Always set a good example for your children by wearing your own seat belt. Stop frequently when traveling long distances to let everyone stretch their bodies.
If you are ever tempted to give in to your child’s protests and take him out of the restraint, ask yourself who should be making the safety decisions for your family— a child or an adult?
The answer will be obvious!
Originally published in The Paper, June 1980.
Read this article in the original newspaper issue.
Original source: SD_Times1980_06.pdf, printed page(s) 2; PDF page(s) 2.
