Family road trips can be exciting, but safety should always come first. This guide will provide essential tips to keep the whole family safe and secure while travelling by car. From vehicle preparation to ensuring your children are properly restrained, every step matters in creating a stress-free journey. Keep reading for the top safety tips for family travel by car.
Pre-Trip Vehicle Checks: Ensuring Your Car is Road-Ready
First, you should make sure that the car is in good condition before hitting the road. This should include making sure that the tyres are inflated to the correct pressure and have sufficient tread depth, testing the brakes, topping up the fluids, and checking the lights. Additionally, make sure that you keep to your car’s service schedule to ensure it is in the best condition.
Keeping Kids Safe: Car Seats, Seatbelts, & Comfort Tips
To keep your kids safe and comfortable during car trips, you should make sure that you have car seats (if appropriate) and make sure that everyone is buckled up properly before you start moving. You should also make sure that they have essentials within reach for a comfortable trip, such as water, snacks, and entertainment.
Smart Driving Habits for Long Journeys
You should also adopt smart driving habits for safety, comfort, and to prevent fatigue. This means planning rest stops every few hours, sharing driving duties if possible, and avoiding distractions by putting mobile phones out of reach or using hands-free. Make sure that you stick to the speed limit, consider the weather conditions, and be wary of the traffic around you at all times.
Emergency Preparedness: What to Keep in Your Car
It is always important to be prepared when it comes to car trips, which is why you should have an emergency kit in the car at all times. This kit should contain:
- Spare tyre
- Tyre changing kit
- Blankets
- Spare clothes
- Snacks
- Shovel
- Torch
- Phone charger
- First aid kit
- Jump leads
The Importance of Travel Insurance & Car Coverage
Having sufficient insurance in place is vital for financial protection. In addition to your car insurance, you should have travel insurance if you are travelling overseas and consider taking out temporary car insurance if you will be splitting the driving with someone who is not insured on the vehicle.
The advice in this post should be useful and help you prioritise safety on every car journey. As a parent, safety will be a top priority when it comes to driving, so you will want to make sure that your car is roadworthy, the kids are secured safely, you adopt smart driving habits, have an emergency kit, and have sufficient insurance in place. This will enhance safety but also give you peace of mind – something you cannot put a price on when it comes to driving with your kids in the back.
