Baby Safety Month: The Safest Chevy Cars & Car Seat Installation Tips

With September being Baby Safety Month, Dimmitt Chevrolet encourages all parents—from moms and dads who’re just learning the ropes to those who’ve already been around the proverbial block—to double- and triple-check their car seats, review their vehicle’s safety ratings, and stay abreast of updated Florida car seat laws. As the back-to-school season kicks into high gear, there’s no better time to ensure your child is safeguarded in the back seat.

Fill up on the resources below, and come to our Chevy dealership if you need an upgrade in safety. We have a large selection of modern, new Chevy cars and quality used cars for sale in Clearwater that will protect you and your family’s wellbeing in the event of an accident.

Safest New & Used Chevy Models

Each year, the IIHS conducts tests to ascertain how well certain vehicles protect its passengers in the event of a collision or crash. Vehicles that perform best are awarded Top Safety Picks, setting the model-year standard for their respective body styles. At Dimmitt Chevrolet, we want to help find you and your family an IIHS-approved vehicle, new or pre-owned so that you can drive with confidence. 

2016 Chevy Malibu: Our Choice for Midsize Safety

New families of the three-person variety might not need the size of an SUV or minivan—at least, not quite yet. For those people, a 2016 Chevy Malibu is the definitive choice in safety. Earning a TopSafety Pick+ rating from the IIHS, the Malibu is one of the very few midsize sedans with a front crash prevention grade of “superior.” Featuring easy-to-locate LATCH anchors, the Malibu also makes it a cinch to install a car seat. 

2016 Chevrolet Equinox: Top in SUV Protection

Families that drive together stay together, and there’s no better choice for a spacious, comfortable, and safe ride than the 2016Chevy Equinox. As a TopSafety Pick in the midsize SUV class, the Equinox produced impeccable ratings in crashworthiness, with an emphasis on rollover protection and roof strength—sometimes a pitfall of SUVs. The Equinox also has LATCH anchors to secure your child’s car seat in place, and a tether anchor for extra protection. Note: The 2017 Equinox is now available and offers improved safety features.

2013 Chevy Traverse: Top Safety Ratings at a Bargain Price

Buying a new car or SUV isn’t in everyone’s budget. With the 2013 Chevy Traverse (and older models through 2009), buyers can stay under budget without sacrificing safety! The Traverse earned a Top Safety Pick in 2013 with best-in-class crashworthiness ratings and also has LATCH connectors and tethers. If you’re looking to save money for your child’s college fund, take a gander at our pre-owned Traverse SUVs. 

Other Notably Safe Vehicles

2016 Chevy Impala – The newest Chevy Impala, while not awarded with a Top Safety Pick, is no slouch in the safety department. Redesigned in the 2014 model year, the Impala has been at the forefront of safety standards thanks to “superior” front crash ratings. 

2012-2016 Chevy Sonic – Small in size, but big in fortification, the Sonic has earned Top Safety Picks in four of its five years on the market. Whether you purchase a new or used Sonic, you’re guaranteed the same high level of protection. 

2014 Chevy Cruze – Another smaller addition to the list is the 2014 Cruze, one of Chevy’s most respected small sedans. Also a Top Safety Pick, the vehicle earned incredible ratings in crashworthiness, and you can buy a used Chevy Cruze at a discounted price from Dimmitt, your used car dealership near Tampa.

Car Seat Installation Tips & Tricks

Installing your first car seat can be a sweaty, frustration-filled nightmare. Other than purchasing an easy-to-install seat or bringing your car to a sanctioned inspector in the Clearwater area, what can you do to make the process simpler? Here are some helpful tips and tricks to install even the bulkiest of child safety seats. 

• Read the instruction manual! Seriously.
• Before attempting to slide the car seat into the back, push your front seats as far up as possible. This is essential if you’re installing a car seat in a sedan.
• Position the car seat in the center of the row. Statistics show that the middle seat offers over 40% more safety than any other location.
• Loosen your LATCH straps before trying to install the seat.
• When tightening these straps to a LATCH or tether anchor, use your body’s weight to push the car seat down. This will ensure the car seat does not wiggle more than inch from its static position when forcefully moving it side to side. If your vehicle is an older model, use the same strategy when attaching it with the seatbelt, and look into upgrading to a newer model car.
• If you’re installing the car seat in an SUV or minivan, it’s easier to tighten the Y-strap from the trunk area.
• Use the built-in adjuster or angle ruler to ensure the car seat’s base is at the appropriate reclining angle. For infant car seats, a 30- to 45-degree angle is optimal. If you’re having issues getting the angle down, try placing a rolled-up towel underneath the base and trying again. Trial and error, folks.
• When in doubt, bring your handy work into a certified inspector in Clearwater, Tampa, or St. Pete. They’ll help you install the car seat correctly and for free.

More than 7 in 10 car seats are incorrectly installed—don’t be the majority! Install your car seat properly, and frequently check straps, harnesses, and angles to ensure your child’s safety. For more information about proper installation, review Florida’s laws on child safety seats at dmv.org.

Stay Safe All Year Round

Although September is Baby Safety Month, ensuring your child’s safety is an ongoing and annual endeavor. Proper testing of car seat position, straps, and accessories, as well as regular car or Chevy maintenance, will help keep you and your loved ones safe while on the road. Visit Dimmitt Chevrolet to find a new parent-friendly vehicle. Call us at 888-867-1203 to schedule a test drive. In addition to our inventory of cars, vans, SUVs, and trucks, we also have a Chevrolet maintenance shop to ensure your vehicle is running at peak performance.

Sources:

http://www.jpma.org/?page=baby_safety_month

http://www.dmv.org/fl-florida/safety-laws.php

http://www.safercar.gov/cpsApp/cps/index.htm

http://www.dmv.org/how-to-guides/buying-child-seat.php

http://www.iihs.org/iihs/ratings/TSP-List

http://www.nhtsa.gov/nhtsa_eou/