What should you keep in mind while planning long distance car trips with kids? How can you ensure their safety? Read this article to know more.
Traveling with children - and that too in a car is not an easy task. To survive this long-distance car trip, you must keep some car safety tips handy for a smooth and enjoyable journey. Logging long miles in the car is exhausting for you - so imagine, how tough it is for your kids. Sitting for hours strapped to a car seat may make them quite irritable.
You must also be aware of the safety aspect when taking long-distance trips. Driving on highways and mountainous terrains carry higher risk as a little bit of over speeding and negligence on these unknown roads could lead to accidents.
So here are some tips that may come in handy-
Get your Car Inspected
If you are familiar with the know-hows of car mechanism, you can do this yourself. If not, take your car to an expert mechanic who can check your car. This would include inspecting the oiling, radiator, etc. Next, make sure that you fill up on the fuel. Also, keep some spares handy like a tire, radiator fluid, engine oil, etc. in the boot. Do check for air bags and car locks too.
Get Ample Sleep the Day Before
If you are going to be at the steering, make sure that you snooze well the night before. There’s nothing worse than a drowsy driver at the wheel. Being alert on the road would prevent risks of an accident to a great extent.
Children’s Safety
Put kids in the back seat. This is a rule of thumb that children should be allowed only in the back seat, especially if they are younger than 7-8 years.
If you have a toddler or infant, then he/ she should be strapped well to the car seat. This seat can be rear facing in case of younger infants or front facing for toddlers.
If the child is older, then make sure they are strapped to the safety of their seat belts. The seatbelt should remain on through the course of the journey.
Make sure that the central locking is on - and you have childproof locks.
Being a long-distance trip, it is likely that your kids would want a nap. So you can just recline their seats a bit but make sure that the belt is strapped on. In case you have to break suddenly, there’s no risk of them falling off.
Small children can get bored easily. So, it’s always a better idea to carry few of their favorite toys, coloring materials or even a couple of brand-new toys that they haven’t yet played with. This will not only ensure that they remain busy but will also give you some time off from continuously entertaining them.
Make Small Stopovers
Take a break every couple of hours so that your kids can get out and stretch their legs too. Also, stock up on food and water. If you have been driving for a long time, get a caffeine recharge with some tea or coffee to keep you alert.
Take Turns Driving
Let your partner take turns when driving on a long-distance trip. This way both parents have a chance to spend some quality time with kids. It also means a quick nap and some relaxation so that you can grab the steering again, without feeling groggy.
Keep a First-Aid Kit Handy
Keep a first-aid kit handy with you. This should comprise of some antiseptic or disinfectant along with bandage, cotton, etc. In the case of minor accidents, these may prove to be very handy.
Paying a little attention to these road safety tips is mandatory every time you travel with kids on board. Along with this, keep medical emergency phone numbers and your car insurance policy handy with you. And above all, just enjoy this amazing ride with your kids.
Also Read: 10 Commandments for a Happy Road Trip
