The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) is offering parents an online source of information on all things related to kids and safety.

"Here you will find answers to the most common questions you may have – whether you’re buying their first car seats or handing your teen their first sets of car keys. Should you let your kids walk to school? What about bikes or the big yellow school bus? How safe is my car? We can help you with all these answers and many more," promises the DOT.

Topics on the Parents Central website include:

• How to choose the right car seat for every age -- and use it correctly
• What to know before you hand the keys over to a new driver
• How kids can stay safe around cars, whether they're on foot or riding bicycles

In the last category, a campaign from the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration and and Ludorum, producers of the Chuggington™ television series, provides parents with tools that include cartoon characters who help inform children about ways to walk and ride more safely.

Another section, In around the car, covers common -- and serious -- dangers like heatstroke and backover. Heatstroke is the leading cause of non-crash, vehicle-related deaths for children under 14, with at least 33 fatalities reported in 2011 alone.