Technological advances in the automobile industry have made our lives a lot easier. We now have access to built-in video screens, keyless ignitions, and cars that can automatically text people, so that we’re not looking down at our phones while we’re driving.
However, every new invention comes with a host of unforeseen problems. Car manufacturers do their best to make sure their vehicles are safe, but hidden dangers still exist.
Sadly, that’s taken the lives of little ones and their family members. Janette Fennell, president of the ‘Kids and Cars’ safety organization, is sharing her little-known car safety tips, in the hopes that it will keep you and your family out of harm’s way.
These days, new cars are super efficient, which in turn makes them whisper quiet. They also come equipped with all sorts of neat «futuristic» features, like the keyless push-button ignition.
However, there is a downside to those push-button ignitions. You may forget to turn off your car after you pull into the garage, which can lead to a buildup of poisonous carbon monoxide.
Since the car is so quiet, you might not even realize that it’s still running! Janette recommends that you install a carbon monoxide detector in the garage, just in case. It’ll keep your family safe when unforeseen forgetfulness gets in the way.
Most cars these days come with automatic windows, which means you no longer have to reach over to the passenger side to manually hand-crank the window. While automatic windows are super convenient, they also pose a danger to children. It only takes 22 pounds of force to crush a child’s trachea, yet the majority of automatic car windows have between 30 and 80 pounds of force!
Automatic car windows can get even trickier, since some will roll all the way up or down with just one push of the button, while other windows will stop on a dime as soon as you let go. When it comes to child safety, nothing beats the automatically-reversing car window.
There’s also a cool paper towel trick you can use to determine if your car has the automatic-reverse car window feature. It’s pretty slick!
Watch the video below to learn how to use it, and to see even more car safety tips!
