Before you go on any road trip, it is important to give your car a thorough looking over. Make sure your tires are inflated at the proper PPI in order to avoid blowouts. The correct PPI for your vehicle is usually printed on a sticker on the inside edge of your car door. Do not inflate your tires to the maximum PPI stated on your car's tires. Check all of the fluids in your vehicle including the oil, coolant, transmission fluid, and brake fluid. Being stranded on the side of the road with your children can be inconvenient, to say the least, and quite dangerous.
When you put your children in the car, it is not only vitally important to restrain them in a safety seat appropriate to their age, but also it is the law in most states. Having a safety seat for your child is not enough; you must make sure your safety seat is installed correctly. If you are not sure that your child safety seat is installed correctly you might get help from your local police station or at one of the numerous car seat clinics that are held frequently around the country. Your child must be in his or her safety seat the entire time the car is moving, even if it is just a trip around the block.
Children can sometimes be tempted to escape from their car seats while you are driving. Nothing can be more dangerous than a child on the loose in a moving car. Beth McGregor, co-founder of www.TravelingWithKids.com tells us, "Keep your children busy on your next trip. A bored child is a mischievous child. Whether it's a road or airplane trip bring along fun new toys and activities to keep them entertained." When your child is distracted with fun activities, he will not have time to think about how to get out of his seat.
While you are on your road trip, you will probably be stopping at rest areas and restaurants to take breaks, refuel, and eat. Keeping track of your children when they are out of the car in a strange place is another important area of safety concern. Beth says, "Keep a current photo of your children in your diaper bag or wallet. The fastest way to find a lost child is with a current photo. The photo can be copied quickly and posted with security at all exits. If you are traveling with toddlers and school-age children, make them "travel buddies" so they keep an eye on each other. Offer prizes along the way to motivate them to "stay together." Do not be afraid to use a safety harness on small wandering children. It is better to be safe than sorry. There are some cute new harnesses that look like animal backpacks - your child will not even know she is wearing one."
