Car Safety Tips When Road Tripping With Your Kids

Are you planning on taking a road trip with your kids this summer?

If so, we hope you have a lot of fun. No matter where your four wheels take you, we hope both you and your young ones have many happy and exciting experiences en route.

However, traveling during the summer can be dangerous. The chances of an accident are high, especially when you factor in the busy traffic on our highways and byways, as well as the hot temperatures that could cause road rage in many a driver. While you will always have legal rights in the event of an accident, with  NBA Law Firm’s car accident lawyer being just one excellent example, for your safety and the safety of your kids, you need to do all in your power to alleviate the chances of the unthinkable happening.

These are the car safety tips you need to adhere to:

#1: Ensure your car is roadworthy

Your car needs to be fit for purpose for the road trip, so take it to your local garage for a service. And before you leave on your trip, you should also carry out the necessary checks, such as your oil and water levels, as well as the tyre pressure on your wheels. However, if your car isn’t up for the journey, for whatever reason, then you might want to hire a car instead. Alternatively, you might also want to trade in your old car for a better model if the expense of repairs are worth more than your ailing vehicle, so check out our car buying tips when looking for something to accommodate your family.

#2: Pack your safety gear

Ensure you leave room in your car for anything designed to keep you safe and well on the road. This includes a first-aid kit in the event of an injury and plenty of water to keep both you and your children hydrated. In the event that you do break down, you need blankets to keep your family warm when temperatures drop, and a phone charger to ensure your phone is juiced up for calls to the police and breakdown services. You might consider the items on this emergency kit list useful too. Pack them as a priority over any inessential luggage, as even if you don’t have to use them, it is better to be safe than sorry.

#3: Rule out bad behavior

We are talking about both you and your children.

For you, it’s important to follow the rules of the road, so that means no speeding, despite your hurry to get from A to B, and no dodgy driving, such as weaving in and out of traffic when you’re impatient with other drivers. Don’t use your phone will driving either, unless you have a hands-free kit in your car, and don’t attempt to eat or drink when your hands should be on the wheel.

And for your kids, you need to enforce a few rules with regards to their behavior. This includes no fighting, shouting, or any other such behavior that could distract you while driving. There are some tips for keeping your kids entertained in the car within this article; any one of which will alleviate the chances of your children becoming bored and badly behaved.

#4: Take a break

You will need to schedule in toilet breaks anyway, as well as stop-offs to any worthwhile sights and attractions on your road trip, so make sure you stick to them. This will give you all a chance to stretch your legs and get a little exercise away from the car and will ensure you’re more alert when you’re next behind the wheel. Add in any extra breaks should you start to feel tired or drowsy, or pass over the driving responsibility to another if you have another qualified driver in the car with you. Your breaks might cut into your journey time, but where safety is concerned, you should always make them a priority.

Enjoy your (safe) road trip!