Once upon a time, there lived a little red Jeep. He was already quite a grown-up little one, because he could fill up with petrol by himself and even washed his own wheels before bedtime. And nearly every morning, he went with his mum to the car nursery—that's a special nursery just for little motor cars.
Jeep was a good child and often listened to grown-ups. But he absolutely hated travelling in a car seat. He didn't like having to sit strapped in one place whilst he was going somewhere. So every time they tried to strap him in, he would wave all four wheels about and say he didn't want to go anywhere.
One day, Mum got really tired of arguing with Jeep and allowed him to travel without a car seat. The happy little one sat on the free back seat and sang songs all the way, cheerfully clapping his little doors. He knew that Mum was a careful driver, so he wasn't afraid to travel unstrapped.
They'd nearly arrived and nothing terrible had happened. But suddenly, a silly little kitten jumped out onto the road! Mum braked sharply and swerved to the side, the brakes squealed, and she spun round. Little Jeep, because of the sharp turn, hit his bumper hard against the back of Mum's seat and fell onto the floor. The kitten wasn't hurt, just frightened that he'd caused an accident, and ran away.
Jeep, darling, are you all right?
Asked the frightened mum-jeep. She opened the door and lifted the little one out.
My bumper hurts! My wheel hurts!
Little Jeep cried.
Mum put him in the car seat and quickly drove to the car hospital. There, the car doctor examined the little patient, stuck a plaster on his bumper and bandaged up his broken wheel. And he said that until it healed, he mustn't run, jump or go out to play. He also told them off for not using a car seat, otherwise everyone would have stayed healthy. Jeep then said:
But we didn't know there was going to be an accident! If the kitten hadn't jumped out onto the road, nothing terrible would have happened!
Nobody knows when trouble will happen. If we knew when something unpleasant was going to occur, we could avoid it. That's precisely why car seats are fitted for children. The road is a very dangerous place! At any moment, someone might run out onto it, or it might become slippery, or there might be a bump. Then the car has to brake or turn sharply. If a child isn't strapped in, they'll hurt themselves badly and end up in hospital. Like you.
Jeep replied sadly:
I see... But I don't like car seats!
The car doctor laughed:
It doesn't have to be liked, it has to protect little ones. There are places for playing—those are playgrounds and your room. And there are dangerous places where you must behave very carefully and attentively. And if your parents say it's time to strap in, then you must listen and not argue. Look, you didn't listen—now you can't go out to play until your wheel heals. But you'll listen to your elders now and only travel in a car seat, won't you?
I will
Little Jeep answered.
And will you travel in a car seat, little one?
