Few things feel better than the school pickup, the trip to the ice cream shop or the long drive to the lake with the grandkids chattering in the back seat. For many grandparents, being the family chauffeur is a big part of the job. It is also a responsibility that has changed a great deal since our own children were small.
Car Seats Have Changed, and So Have the Rules
Child passenger seats work. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that car seats reduce the risk of fatal injury by 71 percent for infants and by 54 percent for toddlers in passenger cars.1 But they only work when they are the right seat, installed the right way.
Current guidance keeps children rear facing for as long as their seat allows, then in a forward-facing harness, then in a booster seat until the adult belt fits properly, usually somewhere between the ages of 8 and 12. All children under 13 should ride in the back seat.1 If you keep a spare seat in your own car, check the expiration date stamped on it. Most seats expire after six to ten years because plastic weakens over time. Never use a seat that has been in a crash.
Many fire stations and hospitals offer free car seat checks with certified technicians. Twenty minutes with one of them is well worth it.
Small Habits That Matter
Put the phone away before you pull out. Plan the route before you leave rather than adjusting the GPS at a light. Keep snacks and toys within the children’s reach so nobody is twisting around at 45 miles an hour. Be honest with yourself about night driving, glare and fatigue, and if a medication makes you drowsy, let someone else take the wheel that day.
If a Crash Happens with the Grandkids in the Car
Even careful drivers get hit. If it happens, stay calm and check on the children first. Call 911, even if everyone seems fine, and ask for a police report. Children often do not show injuries right away, so have them checked by a doctor the same day. Take photos of the vehicles, the road and the car seats, and get the other driver’s name, insurance and contact details.
Then call the parents. It is a hard call to make, but they will want to hear it from you. Replace any car seat that was in the vehicle, whether or not it looks damaged.
Be careful about what you say to insurance companies in the first days. An adjuster may call quickly and ask for a recorded statement. It is fine to wait until you have spoken with your family, and, if anyone was hurt, with a car accident lawyer who can explain how medical bills, a child’s injuries and your own claim are handled. In many states, including Pennsylvania, you generally have two years to file an injury claim, but evidence is easiest to gather in the first few weeks.2
The Best Part of the Job
Driving the grandkids is a gift and a trust. A properly fitted car seat, a calm driver and a plan for the unexpected mean every trip, whether to soccer practice or across the state, ends the way it should: with everyone home safe and a few good stories to tell.
References
- National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Car Seats and Booster Seats. Washington, DC: NHTSA.
- 42 Pa. C.S. § 5524 (Pennsylvania two-year limitation period for personal injury actions).
