Ride-on toy safety starts before the first lap around the driveway, and in December 2017 we had a fun reason to talk about it. That holiday season, a custom Thrush & Son® Power Wheels Ford Raptor sat in the spotlight as the giveaway prize for our toy drive, and Hallie took it for a test drive on camera.
The giveaway is long over, but the lesson rolls on. Here’s the story, plus a ride-on toy safety check your family can run at home.
- Model
- Custom Ford Raptor ride-on
- Built for
- 2017 holiday toy drive
- Test driver
- Hallie
- Entry
- One new, unwrapped toy
- Status
- Giveaway closed
Ride-on toy safety in short: read the age label, fit a helmet, let an adult handle charging, ride on a flat spot away from the street with a grown-up close by, and store the battery the way the manual says.
Take the Test Drive Route
The 2017 Showroom Star
Every December our family looks for a way to make giving a little louder. In 2017 the answer had four wheels, a battery and a Ford Raptor body: a custom Thrush & Son® Power Wheels truck, offered as our giveaway prize.
The rules were simple. Neighbors brought a new, unwrapped toy to one of our two locations during business hours, and each donation earned an entry. One drop-off did two jobs: it put a gift in the toy drive for a local kid and gave the donor’s family a shot at the truck.
For the bigger picture, see how to donate to Toys for Tots.
This giveaway ended in 2017. We share it as part of our family’s community story, not as a current contest.
Watch Hallie’s Test Drive
Before any prize goes home, it gets a road test. Hallie took the Raptor for a spin in a short video, and her grin said more than any spec sheet could.
Look closely for the roofing-crew touches and the elf riding along. Then scroll on for the ride-on toy safety specs every family should check before a truck like this leaves the garage.
Your Ride-On Toy Safety Spec Sheet
A ride-on truck looks like a toy but moves like a small vehicle. Good ride-on toy safety comes down to four specs, each traced to U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) guidance.
Helmet that fits
Ride-on toy safety starts at the top. CPSC pairs riding toys with proper safety gear, including helmets, and says helmets should be sized to fit and worn properly at all times. Fit it at the store, then buckle it in the driveway.
Age on the label
CPSC tells shoppers to read and heed the label to judge whether a toy fits the child. Little siblings count too: kids under 3 shouldn’t get toys with small parts.
Grown-up on the charger
CPSC’s toy safety guidance says charging batteries should be supervised by adults, because chargers and adapters can pose thermal burn hazards to children.
Eyes on the driver
CPSC calls supervision key with riding toys. You don’t need a crowd, just one adult close enough to step in.
“All of the riding toy deaths were due to motor vehicle involvement.”
That CPSC line is why ride-on toy safety is mostly about location: keep little drivers away from cars.
The Pre-Drive Safety Check
Run this ride-on toy safety check before every session. Tap each item as you confirm it and watch the fuel gauge climb. At 8 of 8, your driver is cleared.
Driveway and Garage Lot Rules
The driveway is where ride-on toy safety meets real cars. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) backover guidance gives families a short playbook.
- Walk the car firstWalk around your vehicle and check the area around it before you back up.
- Park kids to the sideHave children stand to the side of the driveway or sidewalk, where the driver can see them.
- Clear the drivewayTeach kids to keep toys and bikes out of the driveway, including the ride-on truck.
- Engine on, kids awayTeach children to move away from a vehicle when a driver gets in or the car starts.
- Back up slowlyKeep checking mirrors as you back up. The smaller the child, the harder they are to see.
- Give the truck its own lotPick a patio, fenced yard or driveway section where no cars move. It’s the simplest ride-on toy safety upgrade there is.
- Don’t trust the camera alone. NHTSA says detection devices can’t completely take the place of walking around your car.
- Don’t let the driveway end at the street. If the slope runs toward the road, move playtime to the yard.
Charging and Battery Storage
Between drives, most ride-ons live in the garage. Set up the service bay once and ride-on toy safety gets easier.
A dry service bay also depends on a sound roof and working gutters. Our gutter maintenance tips cover the outside of that bay.
The Takeaway Worth Sharing
Helmet on, age label checked, an adult on the charger and the truck far from the street. That’s ride-on toy safety in one breath.
Share this with the family that has a shiny new ride-on on their wish list.
Toys in the Garage, a Sound Roof Over It
Thrush & Son®: family-owned exterior contractors since 1960.
When the roof, siding, windows or gutters need a look, we’re right here in Brookville. Read our holiday thank-you from three generations, then book an estimate.
➡️ Schedule in Dayton➡️ View All ServicesCall (937) 833-5136 · 115 Jefferson St, Brookville, OH 45309
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- Since 1960
Further Reading
Official sources: the U.S. CPSC toy report and gift tips, holiday shopping tips and toy safety guide, plus NHTSA’s child safety and backover tips.
Ride-On Toy Safety FAQ
What is the most important ride-on toy safety rule?
Keep the toy away from cars and the street. CPSC reported that all riding toy deaths in its 2016 data involved a motor vehicle, so pick a flat spot with no traffic and keep an adult nearby.
Does my child need a helmet on a ride-on truck?
Yes. A helmet is basic ride-on toy safety gear, and CPSC recommends safety gear, including helmets, for riding toys. The helmet should be sized to fit and worn properly the whole time.
Who should charge a ride-on toy battery?
An adult. CPSC says charging batteries should be supervised by adults, because chargers and adapters can pose thermal burn hazards to children.
Where should kids drive a ride-on toy at home?
On a flat, dry area away from moving cars, such as a fenced yard or patio. NHTSA also recommends keeping toys out of the driveway and walking around your vehicle before backing up.
Is the Thrush & Son Power Wheels giveaway still running?
No. The custom Ford Raptor giveaway was part of our 2017 holiday toy drive, when a new, unwrapped toy dropped off in Brookville or Troy earned an entry. We share it here as part of our community story.
Written by Corey Thrush, Vice President and third generation of Thrush & Son®.
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