Prepared by Rashid Mhlanga
Family time is priceless! The joyous moments are simply incomparable to anything. It is often spent doing a lot of activities such as playing sports, enjoying picnics, game-drives, solving puzzles and so many other things to strengthen bonds. At times, some parents tend to teach and, encourage their children behaviours and conduct which is not permissible by law all in the name of “quality family time!”
Here are some the practices often take place in and/ around the car:
1. Driving with a toddler/ child on your lap
This is a common practice done by men whereby their toddlers will be seated or standing on their father`s lap, casually holding the steering wheel whilst the car will be in motion at ridiculous speeds. This irresponsible conduct not only endangers the child and the father, but it is harmful to fellow motorists, pedestrians and passengers on board, who ignorantly cheer and jeer at the sight the young one driving much to their amusement.
2. The Standing Passenger.
Couples, friends, colleagues and associates tend to allow their young ones to stand or sit between the driver`s seat and the passenger`s seat whilst the vehicle is in motion. They do engage the child in conversation whilst casually dissuading them from doing. The more they concentrate of speaking and, driving with the child in those said positions, the more they are endangering the child`s life in the event of a head-on collision direct hit from the back, the minor will face detrimental head and body injuries, or fateful demise.
3. Unnecessary noise
There are moments when children tend to fight amongst themselves or with the driver of the vehicle causing unnecessary racket which results in the driver losing awareness of his duty, environment, and other motorists together with pedestrians. The deafening screams are totally uncalled for.
4. None restrains
There are a number of drivers who ignorantly drive around with children seated without car seats (for babies and toddlers) and seat belts for the six year olds and above. Just like “The Standing Passenger”, these too are prone to the dangers and aftermath of impact for the rest of their lives.
5. Horse play
Boys will be boys and they do behave reckless when the car is in motion. Casual fighting, sparing with hands takes away attention from checking the mirrors and the environment of the driver. It is best to sit and converse in a manner which is not disruptive of the driver`s cognisance.
6. Daring the driver
This is a common practice done by adults and children alike, whereby they dare the drive to move the vehicle whilst they sit on either, the bonnet or the boot. At times, people challenge to push the motion vehicle in an opposite direction in a show of insanity in front of other family members whilst intoxicated or sober minded. The results can be catastrophic.
7. Hands on deck
Vehicles tend to develop mechanical faults of all sorts and fail to start, which will then require alternative means to start such as jump starting or pushing. Some children get to be excited at the prospect of doing so for it rarely happens that they do help push the car. It might happen that a child might trip and fall and/ or, the car might roll back on them because they are not mature yet to know the ‘dos and don`ts’ of the process. Always ensure that minors are nowhere near helping to push the car.
8. Hide & Seek
Lastly, most families enjoy playing one the most common games, Hide and Seek. Indeed it is fun but it has dire consequences when both children and adults hide under functioning and non-running vehicles. Bearing in mind that vehicles are machines which can easily move or break anything, posing a grave danger to the ones who are underneath it.
To be forewarned is to be forearmed. Many lives are at stake because of irrational behaviours and conducts, sadly, all motorists are fully aware of the looming dangers which are lurking but they choose to be ignorant. Negligence and endangerment are serious offences punishable by law. Let continue to adhere to safety measures which are put in place so that we can best enjoy away from harm and avoid causing it to others. #SafetyFirst
