Do you enjoy it when you drive with kids? Aside from trying to ignore all the tantrums that kids throw on the way. Traveling with kids can be fun. Even the parents want to travel with kids because they bring much joy. But traveling with kids requires a lot of care and responsibility to be displayed. It's not just that you have to keep yourself safe but your kids too.
According to the demographics of WHO, nearly 1.35 million people die annually in car accidents all over the world. People must take responsibility to drive safely. It does not matter how others drive, what really matters is that you are a safe driver and for that you need to take a couple of things into consideration. I know of an incident where a family met a very tragic accident and everyone died except for the father, who was driving and the son, who was really small. It was a family of 5, and this happened because the father was driving very fast and he knew his tires needed to be changed but didn't change them and went for the road trip.
So you see, a little negligence can cause irreversible damage. There are certain measures that you can take to drive safe with kids.
1. Buckling Up
This is the most important step that must be taken by everyone. There are some people out there who do not wear seat belts at all, although it does not even take any extra effort. Statistics suggest that wearing a seat belt can greatly reduce the death toll of accidents. In most of the cases where teenagers met car accidents; almost 50% of them were not wearing a seat belt. This data was collected by NHTSA.
2. Install Car Seats Properly
When you have a baby on board, just sticking a ‘Baby On Board' sign won't do the trick. When you are traveling with kids, you have to be extra careful. Always make sure to fit the car seat properly because car seats provide the best protection, if secured properly. When installing the car seat, read the instructions properly and follow each step. A tightly secured car seat will ensure child safety. Also, make sure to use the appropriate car seat for kids.
3. Avoid Distractions
Another driving hazard is when people get distracted and end up having a car crash. People tend to distract themselves texting when driving or even pay attention to what is happening at the back, which gets them distracted. I know it's very tempting to check your phone when it buzzes and you want to reply to that text so bad. But when you are distracted and driving, you are not only putting your life in danger but you are also putting your kid's lives in danger. Train your kids to sit patiently, when on long drives or road trips.
4. Take Regular Breaks
In order to avoid the car crash, you can always take breaks when on a road trip. Driving for long hours can really exhaust the driver and cause them to become sleepy. Taking breaks not only help you freshen up a bit but it gives some time to your kids to play around a little and if you have an infant on board then you can change their nappy or let them out in fresh air for a few minutes.
5. Keep Children Occupied
Make sure that the kids are occupied because if they are not, they will most likely start fighting and you will get distracted. Bring along some of their favorite games or try to make them read a book. This builds up the character of kids. By playing games you get to spend some time together, having fun. Traveling for long hours is boring, so add some fun to it.
6. Never Leave Kids Alone in the Car
Leaving kids alone in the car can be dangerous for a number of reasons. Do you know that children die from heatstroke while sitting in the car? Kids are very delicate, especially infants. Always check the car after you get out just in case you are forgetting that you have a kid sleeping in there. kids can suffocate because they do not understand the dangers.
This article has covered some of the important aspects that must be kept in mind when driving with kids. Safe driving must be the top priority of every driver. So, always stay vigilant when you drive with kids and take other necessary measures and always drive safe.
