Car safety is something that should be taken seriously. Whether you are the driver or a passenger, following the rules will not only keep you safe from an accident, but will prevent you from getting expensive tickets should you get pulled over. It is also essential to take proper steps to child proof and pet proof your car. This article explores ways you can child-proof and pet-proof your car to avoid any accidents in the future.

Never Leave Your Car Keys In the Car

It is not a good idea to leave your keys in the car for several reasons. One of the biggest reasons is because of car theft. Leaving your keys unattended in the car is like giving a thief the passcode to a safe. The flipside to this scenario is leaving your child in the car with the keys nearby.
Children are naturally curious. Their curiosity starts to grow when they get older and have more understanding of the world around them. That being said, you should never leave your car keys unattended in the car with a child present. Kids can get a hold of them, start the car, and before you know it, disaster ensues. To avoid this, make sure to let them know that the keys are not a toy and are off limits to them.

Use the Child Locks

All passenger cars come equipped with locks in the backseat that can only be opened from the outside. If you are driving with young children in the backseat, it is a great idea to use those locks to prevent the child from accidentally opening the door while the vehicle is moving.
Most vehicles have a manual button that activates the child lock feature. To locate it, go to your vehicle and open one of your passenger doors. There you should see a tiny button on the side of the door that can slide to the left or the right depending on where it is currently positioned. Slide the button towards the designated setting and it should be good to go. Test the child lock feature by trying to open the door from inside your car. Repeat this process for all of the other doors that you want child locked activated on in your vehicle.

Invest in Seat Covers

Car seat covers help increase the longevity of your car seats. Many people tend to eat and drink food in their car. This puts the car at risk for getting stains on the seats if you’re not careful enough with your food. This is where car seats come in. They will protect the original material from being severely damaged or stained. Car seats are a great investment and they can be stylish, too.
Many companies sell car seat covers that are easily adjustable and easy to add to the back seat. This will help keep your seats from being scratched by your pup and any shedding will be collected on the cover. They are easy to install and easy to remove so it makes them perfect for long car rides to the vet or any road trips you intend to take with your pet.

Buckle Up Your Pet

Some dogs don’t like sitting still in the car. Instead, they’ll jump and shimmy their way around the vehicle while it’s in motion. This can end up being a potential hazard to the driver, and by extension, the pet. Fortunately, there are special seat belt harnesses that exist that allow you to secure your pet safely inside of them. The pet might not be a fan of the seatbelt harness at first, but once they get used to it, the barking and other distractions should come to a stop. Keeping your dog buckled up is also a way to protect them if a car accident ever occurs. Depending on how great the impact is, a pet not properly secured in the vehicle can be seriously injured or even killed.

Hide Sharp Or Hazardous Items

Make sure to keep sharp items and medication hidden away. If it can be easily found by a child or a dog, it should be stowed away properly. Small children put many things in their mouth without realizing it could be harmful. Dogs and other pets can easily sniff out medications and may break into it.

Sources:

https://www.autobytel.com/car-ownership/safety/6-ways-to-child-proof-your-car-124979/
https://www.fitbark.com/blog/how-to-dog-proof-your-car/

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