Guide to Safe Summer Drives

Summer is filled with playdates, summer outings, road trips, and other reasons to drive more than you normally do. Want some tips on how to stay safe, despite your increased time on the road?

Read on for tips tailored just for moms on how to have safer drives this summer:

Reduce your risk of distracted driving.

Guess who wins at distracting moms from keeping their eyes on the road? If you guessed Little Sally, you would be correct. From sibling fights to garden-variety mischief, your kids’ antics can cause you to have a momentary slip in concentration.

The CDC states that over 1,000 people are injured daily due to crashes involving distracted driving. And according to CNRLawyers.com, aHanover reckless driving lawyer, “Accidents don’t always happen due to irresponsible driving behavior. A minute of distraction can lead to serious accidents, which can lead to injuries or deaths.”

Want to know how to reduce your risk of getting into an accident this year, despite your children’s best efforts to distract you?Establish clear vehicle rules that everyone agrees on before the summer begins. During a family meeting, outline common fights your kids get into while in the car. Then enlist your kids in finding a win-win solution that all agree on.

Repeat your vehicle rules daily so that it comes as no surprise when they are enforced. Additionally, make sure to keep fighting siblings as far apart as possible, and load up on entertainment options if the drive will be lengthy.

Have a roadside emergency kit in your trunk.

Don’t have one? DMV.org lists the basics of what should be in your emergency kit.

Items include a flashlight, a first aid kit, jumper cables, road flares, bottled water, and a multipurpose tool. You could probably assemble all these items yourself. But if you want an easy way of obtaining these items, just head to your nearest Wal-Mart for a ready-made kit with the basics for under twenty bucks.

Premium kits with more packed into them are a little pricier. Although that dollar amount might be worth your extra peace of mind.

Do a full vehicle maintenance check before summer starts.

If you don’t want to be stranded without a vehicle just when you need it most, get your vehicle tuned up before summer days hit.

A basic tune up includes checking your oil levels and making sure it’s topped up. Other fluid levels to check include the radiator fluid, the brake fluid, and the transmission fluid. Check the air pressure in your tires and the tread to ensure that there is minimal wear and tear. Your tune up should also include a battery check, a light check, and a brake check.

Never did a tune up in your life? Feeling too hassled to learn? Drive your vehicle into the nearest car garage and get that to-do off your checklist.

Plot out longer drives like your sanity depended on it.

That dreaded “Are we there yet?” can be greatly minimized through carefully timed mini-breaks, packed snacks, and in-flight entertainment. But this will require sitting down a couple of days before your long drive and writing out lists to make sure that nothing is forgotten. (Which often happens in the last-minute push to get everyone out the door.)

Here are the main areas to focus on when preparing for a drive that is longer than 2 hours.

• Don’t skimp on the entertainment. With so many entertainment options available on mobile devices, entertainment for the road can be compact. Just double check that you packed chargers and other elements necessary to make them work. But to be safe, have a backup plan for when your kids get bored.
• Know where you will take breaks. Taking regular breaks throughout your drive can help ease tensions in the car. Not to mention, it will help to reduce driving fatigue, keeping you alert on the road. There are great apps that can help you plan out a safe route to your destination. Along with showing you the best places to eat and interesting attractions along the way.
• Pack healthy on-the-go snacks. The last thing you need while long-distance driving is your kids bouncing off the walls of your vehicle from a sugar high. Be snack smart and pack your kids’ favorite healthy snacks for the trip. Nuts, raisins, whole wheat crackers with cheese, cut fruit, etc. Also, don’t forget to pack plenty of water to keep everyone hydrated.