Road Safety Tips for Driving With Kids
Driving with children in your vehicle means you must take extra safety precautions. Fortunately, there are several steps you can take to ensure you and your children make it to your destination safely.
Seat Belts and Car Seat Safety
Properly restraining your child in a car seat is the most basic thing you can do to ensure their safety. Before any trip with your child, ensure they’re buckled in securely, whether in an age-appropriate car seat or using a standard seat belt for older children.
Additional tips to keep your child safe include supervising young children in their seats by ensuring you can see them in the rearview mirror. Also, establish rules that your child can’t get up or remove their safety belt while on the road, and enforce those rules when broken.
If you have a young child, avoid the following common car seat mistakes:
- Don’t put your child in a car seat that doesn’t fit them: Car seats can be too big or too small for children. You’ll want to find one rated for your child’s weight and height.
- Don’t put your child in a front-facing car seat too soon: Children must ride in a rear-facing seat until at least the age of two.
- Don’t switch to a booster seat too soon: Children are ready to transition to booster seats only when they’ve outgrown the height and weight limits of their car seat or their shoulders are above the top harness slots. For most children, this happens at around age four.
- Don’t allow your child to sit up front too soon: Children under the age of eight must be in booster seats, which should be placed in the back seats of your vehicle. Children eight or older may sit in the front seat, but depending on their weight, you may need to turn off the air bag in older vehicles.
If this is your first time using a car seat, ensure it is installed correctly by doing the following:
- Read the car seat’s manual. It will tell you how to install the seat properly and provide recommendations on using the LATCH system.
- Check that it is properly secured. It shouldn’t move more than an inch from one side to the other.
- Adjust the safety harness. It should fit across your child’s chest and shoulders, buckling the clip at armpit level.
Driving Tips With Children in the Car
Driving with children can be complicated at times, but these tips can provide peace of mind when you’re behind the wheel:
- Keep enough distance from the car in front of you to avoid hard braking.
- Avoid using your phone or messing with the radio or GPS.
- Keep doors locked and child safety locks on.
- Never leave children in the car unattended.
Taking these safety tips seriously can prevent accidents.
Seasonal Tips for Driving With Kids
Driving with kids in the winter or summer? These safety tips can keep everyone safe and happy:
Colder Weather Tips
It may be chilly—or downright cold—outside, so keep yourself and your child more comfortable by doing the following:
- Bring warm but safe clothing, and avoid bulky clothing for children using a car seat.
- Keep blankets, gloves, and other cold-weather items in your vehicle.
- Keep car windows defrosted without overheating young ones.
- Use extra caution when driving on snow or black ice.
- Be prepared for earlier sunsets and driving in the dark.
Warm Weather Tips
When the season starts to warm up, a drive may seem more pleasant, but there are still specific risks related to the heat. Take the following steps to prevent injuries:
- Never leave children in a car unattended, even if the car says it has automatic cooling or temperature control.
- Regularly check your vehicle’s tire pressure. Heat expands air and could make tires more prone to damage and blowouts.
- Use window shades to keep children out of direct
- Keep water in the car to help prevent dehydration on the road.
Minimize Distractions While Driving
If you are driving, you must avoid distractions. To minimize disruptions from your child while you’re on the road, do the following:
- Hand out snacks, toys, and games before starting your ride. You can even assign another passenger in the car to help with your child’s needs.
- Avoid reaching back and trying to assist your child.
- Try to keep kids busy and calm. Noise from screaming or playing can be distracting. If it becomes too much, always pull over in a safe area.
- If tantrums or arguments happen mid-drive, consider how you want to handle them. Have a plan to pull over and talk to your child before proceeding on your drive.
- Always pull over if needed. If your child is coughing, if someone has gotten sick, or if you’re just feeling tired, it’s time to stop the car.
- Talk to your children about driving and why you must pay attention to the road. Explain what it means to be a safe driver and what could happen if you are distracted.
Driving Tips Around Schools
Driving around schools can be dangerous. To be a safe driver and avoid accidents, do the following when driving near schools:
- Always watch for pedestrians.
- Slow down and follow speed limits in school zones.
- Be prepared to stop for school buses.
- Follow your school’s drop-off or pick-up rules.
- Avoid blocking crosswalks when stopping at red lights.
- Never pass a vehicle that has stopped for a pedestrian.
- Stay alert; children can be unpredictable and may run out into the road unexpectedly.
- Always leave at least three feet of space between your vehicle and cyclists.
- Drop your children off on the correct side of the street, and don’t allow them to exit on the street side of your vehicle.
For Longer Rides
Going on longer rides can be difficult with children in tow. To keep your trip as safe as possible:
- Pack many snacks, drinks, toys, and games.
- Include an emergency car kit with medications, diapers, and first aid gear.
- Ensure your kids are wearing comfortable clothing.
- Consider catering to your child’s schedule, such as nap times, when driving.
- Take many breaks.
- Research your route well before.
- Allow for flexibility in your schedule.
- Bring blankets so your child can use one if they get chilly or tired in the car.
- Add a music playlist your child enjoys to your rotation.
Keeping Kids Safe if the Car Breaks Down
If your car breaks down, you might need to wait for a tow truck. That wait can be frustrating for parents with active or tired children. Keep your child safe by doing the following:
- Move to a safe location: Try to move off the road and onto the shoulder whenever possible.
- Turn your vehicle’s hazard lights on: This shows that your vehicle has an issue and warns other drivers to watch out.
- Stay calm around your children: Don’t panic.
Tips for Caregivers, Babysitters, and Family Members
There are some special considerations if you are a caregiver, babysitter, or family member driving with someone else’s child in the car. Everyone has different ways of handling kids in vehicles. It’s important for the drivers to be on the same page with the child’s parents. Some tips for these drivers include the following:
- Talk to parents before trips: Ask for tips and follow their expectations while driving their kids.
- Avoid having friends in the car: Driving with multiple children can be particularly distracting. The parents should always approve of others in the vehicle beforehand.
- Prepare for the drive: Since caregivers, family members, or babysitters might not often have kids in the car, they should prepare their vehicles by cleaning them and ensuring the appropriate car seat or booster seat is installed properly.
Cordisco & Saile Encourages Road Safety
Whether you’re heading to school, running errands, or going on vacation, following these road safety tips for driving with kids can make every trip a little bit easier.
Prevention is the key, but accidents can still happen. If you or a loved one is injured in a car accident, Cordisco & Saile LLC can help. Contact us today.