Can You Ever Leave Your Kids Alone in a Car?
The new Subaru Outback is a very family friendly car that is revered for its safety record. However, we’ve all seen stories in the press about children that are left in a car and the often tragic consequences. It may be a quick trip into the corner store to get a single item or a ten minute errand, but is it OK to leave your kids in the car? Many parents have their own set of circumstances or rules that they follow when the need to make a decision. Some parents may have a limit of a few minutes and others would say never. Let’s look at this issue in greater detail and determine if it’s ever acceptable to leave your kids alone in your car.
Is it a Question of Age?
For many parents, it’s a simple matter of how old the child is and perhaps how mature they are. Older children, such as early teens, can usually be trusted to not get into too much trouble if they are responsible. Others parents, consider that even a baby can be left alone if the car is locked, they have the keys and they will only be gone a few minutes.
Why Leave a Child in the Car?
The usual reason is that it would take longer to take the child out of the car than it would take to complete the errand. It makes sense from a time perspective; it can take a long time to get the child out of the car seat, arrange a buggy or basket and mess around with the car door. In fact, according to the law, the only reason to leave a child unattended in a car is if it would be too dangerous to take them out of it.
The Possible Consequences
I’m sure many of us have heard of people popping in to buy their petrol, and then the car is stolen off the forecourt and abandoned shortly after when the car thief realises that there is a baby in the rear. This happens more often than you would imagine, and it exposes a small child to a great deal of danger. Another problem, reported more often than we would like is the effect of the sun on a child or even a dog locked in a car. Even on a 20℃ day, the temperature in your car could rise to 60℃, and 75% of that increase occurs within only 5 minutes. An internal body temperature of 41.7℃ is considered to be lethal to a human and a child’s body can heat up as much as three times faster than an adult.
The Legal Ramifications
Australian laws state that it’s never acceptable to leave an unattended child in a car. The penalties do vary from state to state, but offenders can expect a custodial sentences and a hefty fine. To summarize always keep your kids with you and do any errands or filling up when they are not in your Subaru Outback with you.
If you’re looking to buy a Subaru Outback, contact us here at Perth City Subaru. We have a vast selection of both used and new cars available, including the new Subaru Outback. We invite you to join us for a test drive at your earliest convenience, and you can discover the Subaru driving experience firsthand. If you need finance, our rates are highly competitive, and the repayments will be tailored to suit your needs. Our sales team is standing by to advise you on the latest Subaru Outback sale price and answer any other questions that you may have.
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