Safety and children

Correctly fitted and properly adjusted child restraints provide protection for your children.

Airbags

The rear seat is much safer for child restraints than the front seat, with or without an airbag. It is safer not to use child restraints in the front passenger seat.

Choose the right child restraint

Children need different restraints as they grow. The restraint must match the age, size and weight of your child. It must be correctly installed in your car and the straps must be adjusted so that your child is held in snugly.

Installing and using child safety restraints:

Read and follow all instructions carefully when installing child restraints. When installing a child restraint, follow the manufacturer’s instructions exactly or go to a Restraint Fitting Station - their operators have been specially trained to install approved infant and child restraints in a wide variety of vehicles.

Where possible, install your child restraint in the centre position of your car’s back seat, except in the case of a booster seat with a lap only seat belt.

Ensure the top strap and the adult seat belt that keeps the child restraint in position are properly adjusted; there shouldn’t be any slack. When tightening the seat belt push the child restraint firmly into the car seat with your body weight, so that the car seat cushions are compressed. This helps to ensure a very tight fit and minimises subsequent movement in a crash.

Use the minimum number of tether extension straps. Ensure the harness shoulder straps are correctly positioned. When using a rearward-facing infant restraint, the shoulder straps should be located at shoulder height or just above the baby’s shoulders Shoulder straps in forward-facing restraints can be located up to 25mm below the child’s shoulders Adjust the harness firmly. A loose harness won’t perform well in a crash and can lead to other problems, such as the child freeing his or her arms.

There should be no twists in the harness. When using a child harness with a lap belt, tighten the belt first, and then adjust the harness If the inbuilt harness is loose or the restraint is not attached securely to the vehicle, it will not protect your child properly in a crash.

A baby on board sticker is optional!!!!

Driving Safely At All Times

We often take things we do regularly for granted, like driving. We sometimes assume that we have the skills to handle all situations, even those rarely experienced - like driving in the snow or heavy fog.

You can help reduce your risk of being in a crash by anticipating what might happen by looking ahead and closely observing  the movement of other traffic wherever you drive Expecting the unexpected especially in city driving and take extra care when changing lanes, overtaking, going through intersections and driving at night Keeping a greater distance to the car in front especially when driving on rural roads and overtake only when safe - never rush or lose patience.

Taking a 15 minute powernap whenever you feel drowsy or sleepy 

Reducing your speed accordingly when driving conditions become difficult or extreme through rain, fog, snow or glare

Not driving after you have been drinking or have taken drugs

Not using a mobile phone while driving

The crash risk for drivers differs according to age and experience.

Driving as safely as we can is a shared responsibility of all road users.

Ageing drivers are at a greater risk of being killed or seriously injured in a crash due to increased frailty and other issues  associated with driving, rather than risky driving behaviour.

Young drivers are three times more likely to be involved in serious accidents than experienced drivers, and the risk is even higher in the first few months of getting your licence.  This is partly because they take unacceptable risks, but the major reason is that they lack experience.

Fatigue is one of the major contributors to fatal crashes among young drivers. If you're studying, working and/or socialising you may often be tempted to drive tired or when you'd normally be sleeping just to fit everything in. Make sure you get a good nights sleep before you drive. Take a 15 minute powernap whenever you feel drowsy or sleepy.

Avoid driving during normal sleeping hours.

If you are tired and need to get somewhere, try to arrange a lift, use a cab or even catch public transport.

You can also protect yourself and your friends by choosing a safe car that stacks up well in crash tests. Not all cars are created equal in terms of safety Cars within a similar price range may differ in the level of protection they offer occupants in a crash. If you're in the market for a car, look at a range of cars that suit your budget, travel needs and style and then pick the one that's the safest.  There are safe cars for every budget out there.

Equally important is the need for the right insurance to enjoy peace of mind and added protection. Make sure that the insurance company will be with you when you need them the most. Which is why it's critical to pick one that's trust-worthy and reliable apart from low pricing.

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How safe is your car?

We provide a primer on Crash Protection Features. They provide greater levels of injury protection to drivers and passengers in car crashes and include:

Crumple zones

Modern cars protect drivers and passengers in frontal, rear and offset crashes by using crumple zones to absorb crash energy.  This means that the car absorbs the impact of the crash, not the driver or passengers.

Strong occupant compartment

The cabin of the car should keep its shape in frontal crashes to protect the driver and passenger’s space. The steering column, dashboard, roof pillars, pedals and floor panels should not be pushed excessively inwards, where they are more likely to injure drivers and passengers. Doors should remain closed during a crash and should be able to be opened afterwards to assist in quick rescue, while strong roof pillars can provide extra protection in rollover crashes.

Side impact protection

Increased side door strength, internal padding and better seats can improve protection in side impact crashes. Most new cars have side intrusion beams or other protection within the door structure. Some cars also have padding on the inside door panels.

Increasingly, car manufacturers are installing side airbags that provide protection from severe injury. Head-protecting side airbags, such as curtain airbags, are highly effective in side impact and rollover crashes.

Seat belts

A properly worn seat belt provides good protection but does not always prevent injuries. Three point lap/sash seat belts offer superior protection to two point seat belts and should be installed in all seating positions.

Recent improvements to seat belt  effectiveness include:

webbing clamps that stop more seat belt reeling out as it tightens on the spool pretensioners that pull the seat belt tight before the occupant starts to move load limiters that manage the forces applied to the body in a crash seat belt warning systems to remind you if seat belts have not been fastened.

Airbags

Airbags are designed to supplement the protection provided by seat belts - they are not a substitute. The best protection in frontal crashes is achieved using a properly worn seat belt in combination with an airbag.

Head rests

Head rests are important safety features and should be fitted to all seats - front and back. Head rest position is critical for preventingwhiplash in rear impact crashes. Whiplash is caused by the head extending backward from the torso in the initial stage of rear impact, then being thrown forward.

To prevent whiplash the head rest should be at least as high as the head's centre of gravity (eye level and higher) and as close to the back of the head as possible.

Crash Protection features are not enough. Ensure you are protected with insurancefrom a reliable and trustworthy company who don't treat you as another number on an Excel sheet.

Good Samaritans and the law

Over 50 percent of those who die in road accidents can be saved with timely medical care within the first one hour.

To enable bystanders to come forward and help injured persons, the Supreme Court, in a landmark judgement, incorporated the guidelines for the protection of Good.

In the absence of an efficient emergency medical services (EMS) system in India, bystanders can play a crucial role in ensuring that a road accident victim gets immediate help within the ‘golden hour’ period.

Your rights as a Good Samaritan

A bystander or Good Samaritan shall not face any civil and criminal liability arising out of helping a road accident victim.

A Good Samaritan, who informs the police or emergency services for the person lying injured on the road, shall not be compelled to reveal his name and personal details on the phone or in person.

Disclosure of personal information of the Good Samaritan in the Medico Legal Case (MLC) form provided by hospitals shall be voluntary.

Disciplinary or departmental action shall be initiated by the Government concerned against public officials who coerce or intimidate a bystander or Good Samaritan for revealing his name or personal details.

A Good Samaritan who has voluntarily stated that he is also an eyewitness to the accident shall be examined on a single occasion and the State Government shall develop standard operating procedures to ensure that bystander or Good Samaritan is not harassed or intimidated.

Video conferencing may be used extensively during examination of bystander or Good Samaritan including eye-witnesses in order to prevent harassment and inconvenience to Good Samaritans.

In case a Good Samaritan so desires, the hospital shall provide an acknowledgement confirming that an injured person was brought to the hospital to such GoodSamaritan.

Karnataka became the first State to introduce Good Samaritan Bill in the state assembly. This Bill, drafting of which was supported by SaveLIFE Foundation, aims to provide protection to Good Samaritans, who come to the aid of victims of road accident and other emergency situations, from ensuing legal and procedural hassles.