7 Tips for Safe and Comfortable Family Road Trip

Oct 11, 2017 admin Tips 0

Family Road Trip

You need to regard your car as a movable family room that will be completely safe to your children. Aside from having a childproof vehicle, it’s also essential to behave responsibly and comply with traffic rules.

Here are 7 safe driving tips for your next family road trip.

family road trip Image Source: Flickr

1. Pack Convenient Beverages & Snacks

You’ll be needing a lot of snacks when you travel with a family. That said, you should pack some handy fruits, such as apple slices and grapes, which are convenient to handle and are not prone to get mushed. As far as beverages, choose ones with solid lids that come with straws for spill-proof, easy drinking.

2. Choose Working Safety Belts and Seats

Before setting out on the trip, make sure to pick the weight-appropriate belts and seats. Check that your boosters are the right fit for your children in terms of size. Don’t rely on the general age recommendations. Instead, chose the seat boosters based on the weight and height of your kids.

3. Test Booster Seats

Eight out of ten booster seats or child’s seats are not installed correctly, which puts passengers at high risk. This is one of the most common mistakes parents make. In a car crash, a child seating in a loose seat is highly likely to knock in the front seat. That can injure the child’s head or face badly.

Not sure if your child’s safety seat is installed properly? Test the seat by grasping it with both hands at the base. If you’re able to move it more than 1 inch to the right or left, that means it isn’t tight enough and you need to fix it. Here’s how to do it. Put all your weight into it the seat by placing your knee or arm in it. Then try to tighten the seat belt to a feasible extent. Don’t forget to lock it up!

4. Put the Weight Down

Tend to stow all the heavy objects in the seat wells because they are likely to become “projectiles” when you brake sharply. Batten down strollers, suitcases, and other things stored in the open cargo area, just in case.

5. Scour the Backseat

It’s a good idea to activate child safety locks on doors and windows when traveling with a curious tyke. Additionally, you are advised to keep poisonous substances (such as washer fluid) out of reach of your children. Remove any potential projectiles like toys, hard books, and the like from the backseat.

6. Make Bathroom Stops

When having a long distance trip, it is recommended to designate a few bathroom stops along your route. Be sure to pull over before it is too late. That will prevent your kids from making a mess in your car.

7. Rotate with Your Spouse at The Wheel

Is your spouse also a qualified driver? If yes, that would be very helpful during the long, exhausting trip. You will be able to switch on a schedule, preferably after every two hours, and no one will get tired. Fatigue is one of the most common causes of car crashes. So, never drive when you are too tired.

Young kids are pretty unpredictable, so it could be tricky to travel with them for hours. That’s why you need to bear these tips in mind and keep safe on your next road trip. You will be a superhero car driver for your children!