Road Trip Safety

Travel

1. Go for a tune up.

   For smooth sailing (and overall sanity), make sure your car is in good working order. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) recommends that you have your ties, battery, belts, fluids, and air conditioner checked by a qualified mechanic. If you're driving in a hot climate or towing a boat or trailer, you may need a motor oil with a higher viscosity. Schedule a road trip inspection now.

2. Get a good night's sleep.

   According to the NHTSA, driving while drowsy is a contributing factor in 100,000 accidents annually. Drive only when well rested, and switch off with another adult every few hours, if possible.

3. Give your car seat or booster seat a boost.

   Not sure if your car seats or booster seats are installed 100% correctly? Eight out of ten are not. Putting children at serious risk for injury or death. Schedule a free safety seat inspection

4. Gear up for safety.

   The NHTSA recommends packing an emergency kit that includes:

   • water
   • warm blankets
   • flashlight
   • jumper cables
   • flares
   • tools to change a tire
   • a fully charged cell phone
   • a first-aid kit
5. Be sun smart.

   Equip all family members with sun block and sunglasses--you may even want to put hats on your little one's heads and invest in a sunshade for your backseat.

6. Scour the backseat.

   Make sure child safety locks are activated on windows and doors within reach of curious hands. You'll also need to remove any poisonous substances, such as washer fluid, from your backseat. Next, look around for choking hazards-- knobs that pop off easily and loose change between the seat cushions. Finally, remove potential projectiles (hard books, toys, etc.). When your vehicle is traveling at 40 miles an hour, so is everything else in it.

7. Keep the weight down.

   Store heavy items low in the seat wells so they won't become projectiles during a sudden stop. For the same reason, suitcases, strollers, and anything else stowed in an open cargo area should be battened down.

   SOURCE: Parents.com

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