Why Car Seats For Kids Should Be Mandatory In India
Currently, India lacks a rule mandating family to have a child car seat. Even after being aware of the fact that road safety in India is among the worst in the world. The leading causes of such fatalities are speed driving; driving under any alcoholic influence and not using helmets/seatbelts. Unfortunately, there isn’t any such law on protection for children or mandating Car Seat in India, yet. It’s totally a parent’s personal choice whether to buy a car seat or not.
What can we do next?
It is one of the important questions to deliberate here. While we know, accidents do happen and will keep on happening in this fast-moving world, how can we improve safety? There must be a step by step approach and even the most civilised nations follow a basic, three-point framework while addressing any such issue of public safety:
- Introduce laws, rules and regulations.
- Create awareness in the general public.
- And Implement these laws firmly by the concerned authorities.
1. We need rules
In the last couple of years, more than 1.2 million people in India have died in road accidents. While we all know that children are particularly the vulnerable ones in such accidents. We fail to take any corrective measures.
Data from developed nations reveals that proper car seat and restraints can reduce the risk of injury and death in children. This risk can be reduced as much as 71% for newborns or infants and around 55% for young toddlers, between one and four years of age. These numbers clearly indicate that car seats should be made mandatory everywhere, including India.
Also, I have heard some Real stories from family and friends who are settled in some developed countries. The stories about how the hospital staffs who refuse to hand over the baby to the parents unless they have a car seat to drive the baby safely. Or how it is mandatory to ride kids upto certain age or height in a car seat only. While in India, most of our Indian families would happily drive holding on to their young babies in their arms or making them sit on their lap, during the rides.
2. Creating Awareness
That brings me to another point here. Even in the absence of such a law in India- Are people aware or educated about the need for a car seat? Even the privileged ones, seems to be unaware of the risks of having kids on board without a proper seating gear.
How can we bring about awareness?
It is important to empower all the touch points, starting from a car dealer to hospitals, from play schools to daycares and traffic personnel to build awareness. As a parent, if we understand the importance of car seat, we should pass it on with friends and family. As we can still see people smiling, laughing and joking about using a car seat in India.
Along with it, finding a quality car seat is important. We need to understand the types of a car seat to find the one that would be best suited for your child. As the car seat selection should be done depending upon the child’s age, height and weight. At times, it also depends on the model of the vehicle owned by you. There can be certain brands or models of the car seat which may or may not fit your vehicle properly giving the right safety.
3. Smooth Implementation
Then comes the third point – enforcing the laws or the rules. Enforcement is tricky in India because here rules are made to be broken. Many people have this thinking that they can get away with anything by bribing dishonest officials. Or they may find some temporary easy go away with some cheap car seats which may not perform when in need. We need to understand that just like a Seatbelt is important for us, a Car seat is important for young kids.
Frankly, I too was unaware of the risks and potential protection from a car seat, until I saw one. After a lot of diligence, we got a car seat from Britax Roemer, its a luxury German car and bike seat brand which is now available in India. We have the model EVOLVA 1-2-3 SL SICT which is suitable for children from 9 kg to 36 kg or 9 months to 12 years of age. It can be easily installed in most cars – with ISOFIX and a 3-point seatbelt, or the 3-point seat belt alone.
How did we shift to a Car Seat?
Tuggu was around one-and-half-year-old when he first sat in this car seat. And since we had never buckled him, it was a task to get him used to the seat. There were a lot of tears along with the expected- No’s and Why’s. But we kept ourselves strong since we were aware of all possible risk. We talked to him, explained to him and after a lot of convincing he is now finally used to it. Since then I always talk about safety for our kids with our friends and family and try to pass on whatever little knowledge I have gained so far.
I believe it’s easy to make young babies sit in a seat. Also, they get a hang of it while they grow up. But in our case, we started when Tuggu was in a big enough to ‘ask Why’s and say No”. All of this made it so difficult to make him adapt to sitting in a car seat. But we ensured we stay strong and make him sit.
Stay tuned for my next post to know some tips on how we helped him to love his new car seat and how to select the right car seat for your little one.
We all should think like this because car seat is mandatory for kids. Its good for the parents if they convince the child for this.
This is an amazingly safe way to travel with kids. Safety comes first as we all know.
Car seats are really great help with toddlers…I do prefer as it is safe while having a road trip … really loved the article
I too believe it needs more awareness in our country about car seats. I still find people who are not using it and believe it is not that important. I am sharing it with other moms too 🙂
Car seats are very much essential for kids. Recently i bought a car seat for my son. Very nice points you have mentioned..
That’s a great idea to make car seats mandatory for kids in India.Unfortunately we still have a long way to go.
Couldn’t agree more, this speaks my mind and I have just written the same point in your earlier post about how to adjust kids with Car Seats. Lovely thought and great you are crusading for it.
Totally agree with you, Gunjan. We need strict rules & laws to be implemented for mandating car seat for children in India. And of course, creating awareness among general public is an important step. When we bought the car seat, many of my friends were not even sure that something called car seat for kids also exist in Indian market.
Road accidents rate are alarming and awareness is much needed about car seats.
with kids what works is patience and persistence and i think that is what really helped you with the transition.
yes, seat belt are necessary for kids.. i bought a car seat belt for my kid last month..
So glad to hear that! Otherwise there are a lot of people you laugh when we make our son sit in a car seat
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Totally agree with you. Roads these days totally frantic. Nice of you to create awareness on this topic.
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Cant agree more with you Manas. Roads are so bad and with so many accidents happening, it is such a bad situation
I hope many moms will get motivated from you and start making their kids follow car seats from the start.Great initiative.
Thank You!
I don’t really take a car much and with my toddler I usually go via a Rick and to places that’s close by.. however I understand the need for this post and this is an important topic you have discussed here.
Thank You for dropping by and sharing your comments. 🙂
I absolutely agree! car seats and even seat belts should be something everyone should automatically and mandatorily do! We definitely need stringent laws too to ensure everyone uses car seats for the kids.
For Seat belts people still wear it for fear of getting caught and fines. Since Car seats are not yet mandated in India, a lot of people dont use it. I wont blame them as there is a lot of awareness which needs to be created
Indeed when it comes to car seats they need to be mandated in India, after all it’s all about safety of kids. I have always used car seat when it came personally to me.
That;s commendable Jhilmil. First thing we did after buying a car was to get Tuggu a car seat. nothing beats the safety of our kids
Safety always comes first..and when it is about kids then we should never compromise..car seats ensure that the kids are safe during journey..we all parents should use them for kids
Exactly you have said it in one line! Thanks for putting it ahead
Car seats should be conpulcomp for kids. Its not just safety for the kids but for parents, its a peaceful feeling that their kid is sitting comfortably which allows them to concentrate on driving.
So true. kids safety is utmost priority.
I know how important is to keep a child safe and secure while travelling. My son has always been in the car seat as per his age right from the beginning. Doctors here don’t allow parents to take baby out of the hospital after delivery if they have not brought car seat to the ward. It first appeared unnecessary to us but now we understand safety is utmost important.
True that Akansha, But here in India, it is not mandatory. People (Most of them) dont prefer it and still carry kids in their laps
Totally true ..we do need a awareness among parents about the importance of car seat .. And combined with strict laws will ensure safety
Thank you. please share and help spread a word 🙂