Finally there’s warmer weather! As you start to plan your spring and summer travel adventures, it’s a perfect time to make sure your kids are safe while traveling in vehicles. Although the roads may seem safer in the warmer weather, traveling with children always provides safety challenges. Here are some important safety tips for family travel this spring and summer. Buckle up!
Invest in a seat that will grow with your child. Combination car seats are forward-facing only car seats that allow you to use a harness for your child and then remove the harness to use the seat as a booster.
Keep your child comfortable and cool during the warm weather. Remember to pack extra water bottles to keep your child hydrated during the summer months.
Not traveling very far this spring? Did you know that 85% of crashes involving children occur 20 minutes or less from home? All children 12 and under should be buckled in the back seat and big kids under 4’ 9” tall should be in a booster seat. A booster seat can reduce the risk of injury in a crash by 45% for children ages 4-8.
Think your child is ready to use the adult vehicle seat belt? Take this simple test. Have them sit with their back and bottom all the way against the vehicle seat. Make sure their knees are bent at the edge of the seat with their feet on the floorboard. The vehicle lap belt should fit low on the thighs and hips and the shoulder belt should fit across the child’s shoulder. The child must be able to sit like this for the whole ride. Most kids are 10 – 12 years old before they can pass all of these steps!
Have other tips to stay safe for your spring and summer travel? Let us know.
My sister has an awful habit of driving without a seatbelt, at all. She claims, since she had her recent baby, this is ‘in case her baby is choking so she can get to the back seat faster,’ to which I explain, if she is thrown from the car in the accident, noone will be able to help her infant at all. This is some scary stuff! Thanks for the great tips!
My friend lost her husband only blocks from home. He slid into a tree and was NOT wearing his seatbelt. I hope your sister will take your advice soon.
We have had some great combination seats that have lasted long, definitely safe for road travel and saved money too! My son is a LARGE 7 year old and is still in a high back booster. It’s so important. We just took a road trip and water is a must too!
Some good tips here. Family trips are always fun :).
Oh these are wonderful tips. Here’s another, when in a theme park, everyone wears the same BRIGHT shirt.
Very good tips. I think seat belts are very important – especially for children. Even if a car just stops short if they are not restrained they will go flying and could get badly hurt. A seat belt saved me from serious injury in a car accident.
Those are some crazy facts. I didn’t realize the dangers are so close to home.