With bookings for flights and hotels remaining uncertain, a recent travel survey has found that 4 out 5 Americans would prefer to plan a road trip than book another type of vacation. Road trips are particularly suitable for families as they offer them more flexibility than a traditional package tour, and are a safe way to take a break from the routine. If you’re planning a road trip with the kids, as well as packing some essentials for a healthier journey, make sure you’re well prepared so that you can relax knowing that everyone is happy and safe.
Staying Safe in the Event of an Incident
While ensuring your car is roadworthy before a trip will help to minimize the risk of a breakdown, some incidents like a sudden burst tire or a 5-mile tailback can’t be avoided. Always carry a roadside safety kit, blankets and water so the kids can at least stay safe and comfortable in the car while you deal with any emergency. If you are caught up in a collision, you will need to seek further assistance both at the scene and after the event. Being involved in a car accident can be very stressful, but an experienced attorney at FVF Law can help you make an informed decision about how to handle the situation. If you are leasing your car and not sure about how insurance works after an accident, follow this guide.
Fitting Child Seats for Safety and Comfort
As well as ensuring you have enough room for all the family to be comfortable in the car, it’s important to install car seats for the children. Research shows that using age-appropriate car seats and seat belts is the most effective way to reduce injuries in the event of a crash. Very young infants should be in a rear-facing seat and toddlers and young children in a forward-facing seat, both of which are fitted with a harness and a tether to secure them to the car. For older children a simple booster seat will ensure that they are more comfortable and that their safety belt fits them correctly.
Keeping Everyone Entertained to Avoid Distraction
According to the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, children can be as much as four times as distracting as an adult in the car. To minimize disruption for the driver, and boredom for the children, it’s a good idea to pack plenty of activities to keep them entertained. If they don’t get travel sickness, coloring books, comics and magazines will keep them busy, otherwise listening to music with headphones or watching videos on a phone or tablet can help to pass the time and keep them quiet. Stopping regularly for a break to let everyone run off steam can also create a calmer environment in the car for the rest of the journey.
Road trips offer a great way to enjoy a flexible vacation with the kids. By taking steps to ensure that everyone stays safe on the journey, you can relax and enjoy the trip without worry.
