? about car safety

[Guest guest]

Maddie climbed out the car window while I was driving the other day......I'm

still recovering.    I had picked Allie up from school and we were driving

home....5:00 rush hour traffic, about to get onto the highway.    I heard a

seatbelt click and said, " Allie, did she unbuckle? " .   Allie turned around and

screamed.. " OMG, she's climbing out the window " .    I have no idea how Allie

got herself out of the seat belt and in the back of the car as fast as she did,

but she got to her and was holding on to one foot (the other was already out of

the car).    I stopped, threw the car into park, turned the flashers on, and

grabbed her by the coat from the front seat, but I couldn't get my belt off in

that awkward position.    Allie was screaming WHAT DO WE DO....I was afraid to

let go of her and get out of the car to get her back in.   There was a cabbie

beside us with his hand on the horn, who had come to a complete stop so cars

couldn't pass.   Finally Allie was able to pull her back in....ALL 130 pounds

of her!!!!    Duff had used my car the day before and left the lock button

off, and I didn't think to check.    So we NEED a better system.....a SUPER

secure harness she can't get out of.    Even those seat belt locks aren't to

be trusted...I feel pretty sure she could still get out.

Any help?

Thanks guys,

Donna, still shaking.

[Guest guest]

Oh Donna!!! We have had our share of car scares with Pete, but none

as scary as Maddie's latest. I have walked myself through the " what

ifs " , and came up with only the suggestions already made here.

Pete would be trying to drive the car in the front seat, too.

We have to be fastidious about the back-seat windows and door locks.

Pete has done some tossing things to the front of the car- even a

shoe or two- that has given us some moments. That has calmed down

over time. But trying to dive through the window of a moving car-

OMG!!!

So, how are you going to get through the holidays' cooking with one

hand? Oh dear. Prayers for a quick recovery and that you are able

to find a fail-safe solution for Miss Maddie's particular genius of

escaping.

Hugs,

MB