Most of us love our cars and tend not to think of them as a giant, motorized hunks of steel that could easily hurt us or our families.

But dangers lurk within your car even when there’s no crash involved – and those hazards are particularly good to remember when you have little ones around.

“Smarter” cars don’t solve the problem – and in some cases, they make it worse. Automated features don’t work 100% of the time and can be activated when they’re least expected.

Janette Fennell is the founder and president of a safety organization called Kids and Cars – and she shared some tips on how to make cars safer for little ones with Inside Edition back in 2017. Now the video has been viewed by millions.

Here are 5 tips and tricks she thinks it’s important for you to know about:

1. Power windows are powerful

Power windows are convenient if you need some fresh air, but they exert 30-80 pounds of force (depending on a vehicle’s model) on their way up. It only takes roughly 22 pounds to break the trachea of a young child with their head out the window.

Of course, some windows can sense an object being squeezed and deploy “auto-reverse,” but even if they do they retract only after they squeeze.

But have no fear – a handy roll of paper towels can help you test this feature so you know what you’re dealing with when it comes to both kids AND pets.

Sticking a roll in the window frame and pressing the button to close it will allow to see if the window continues to push or goes back down again after squeezing.

2. Mind you BTSI

A Brake Transmission Shift Interlock (or BTSI) is the mechanism that requires you to have your foot on the break before you can put your car into gear. It means no one (like a bored kid) can move the shifter into reverse from the passenger seat.

Fennell recommends testing to see if your car has this feature AND if it’s engaged. All you need to do is try to move the shifter without your foot on the break to see if it moves. If it does, you need to read your manual to figure out how to enable it.

However, older cars don’t always have this option. In that case, you need to talk to your kids about never touching the shifter.

3. When things are just too easy

Many cars have push-button starts, which don’t require a key to start the vehicle. They’re also super quiet while running, meaning you could forget to turn it off without realizing it.

Say you leave your key fob in the front seat and forget to push the button to turn your car off. In that case, carbon monoxide would build up in your garage and create a potentially deadly situation. Entire families have died because the carbon monoxide leaked into their homes from their garages.

Make sure your garage has a carbon monoxide detector!

4. How strong is too strong?

Car windows are made of very strong glass, which isn’t always a good thing.

If people are trapped inside a car during a flash flood, automatic windows and locks may stop working and they won’t be able to force their way out.

That’s when having access to a window breaker (or an inexpensive tool called a Resqme – which can also cut seatbelts ) can be a literal lifesaver.

Keep one in your glove compartment for the unexpected.

5. Steer clear of the trunk

The trunk of a car can be very dangerous – especially in extreme temperatures, so you need to talk to your kids about the fact that it’s not a safe place to play. Since cars made before 2002 don’t have an automatic trunk release, those who get in will not be able to get out on their own.

Cars made after 2002 have a glow-in-the-dark automatic trunk release inside in case you get stuck.

Still, you’ll want to double-check and make sure it’s there and figure out whether it’s the kind that you need to push or pull to activate.

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One of the best ways to keep kids (and pets!) safe around your vehicle, it’s critical to know precisely what your car can and cannot do.

To see Fennell explain her tips in more detail, be sure to scroll down below.

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Source: Inside Edition via YouTube, Kids and Cars