DivyaAs parents, we do a lot to keep our kids safe at home. We cover up electrical outlets, lock cabinets, keep dangerous items out of reach, create safe playrooms, and much more. But what about when you’re on the road – need safety tips for driving? It’s just as important to keep your kids safe when you’re in your car.
Luckily, with a few basic precautions, you can make your vehicle a lot safer for yourself and your kids each time you drive. Here are some safety tips for driving you can employ to make driving your kids as safe as possible.
Remove Dangerous Items
Just like in your home, it’s important to remove dangerous items from your car. Even though your kids are buckled into their seats, they may find a way to reach those items you thought were too far for them.
And, while you’re driving, seemingly innocent items can cause an issue if you’re unable to take them away from your kids in time.
For example, you may have some loose change sitting around or cell phone wires that could become dangerous if your kids get them.
Each time you get into your vehicle, scan for items that are anywhere near your children and look to move them away.
Also make sure there are no items on your back seat shelf under the rear windshield, as these can collide with your children if you stop short.
Know Where They Should Sit
Where your children should sit in the vehicle is an important consideration in safety tips for driving. If you have older children, they are likely safe anywhere in the vehicle.
However, for those of you with younger kids, they may be safer in the backseat. Where your children should sit depends largely on their age and size.
Your state likely has regulations or recommendations that you can explore for more advice on where your children should sit.
Once you determine the best location for your kids, make sure they have the right seat. Younger children need a car seat that’s appropriate for their size and properly installed.
Finally, explore whether this car seat needs to face forward or backward, as this also depends on the age and size of the child. Following all of these safety tips for driving and guidelines helps to ensure you’re giving the best possible protection to your young children.
Make Use of the Latest Technology
Over the past few years, we have seen some great innovations that help to keep not only children but all passengers, safe while in a vehicle. To keep your kids safe, you should explore using some of these technologies whenever you can.
For example, you can use a car seat safety head support which helps to protect your child’s head against injuries like whiplash in the event of an accident. A tool like this is great for younger children in car seats, as they may not have the ability to protect themselves in an accident.
Many new cars also come with some great technologies. For example, some cars can now detect when your vehicle starts to veer into another lane or when it’s about to collide with something in front of it.
Some vehicles allow you to turn these features off, but you should really leave them on for the best protection. Finally, if your vehicle has hands-free technology, like the ability to change music or make calls with your voice, you should utilize these whenever you can.
Prepare Before You Go
Another great thing you can do is take a few moments to prepare before heading out on the road. For example, a simple check of the traffic on your phone may help you avoid long delays with your children in the car.
It’s also a good idea to set your music before you drive so that you don’t need to take your eyes off the road to change it.
Finally, make sure your kids are settled in and have everything they need so that you can avoid having to assist them while trying to drive. The few extra moments you take before backing out of the driveway can go a long way.
Upgrade Your Vehicle
The last thing you can explore doing is upgrading to a safer vehicle. Newer vehicles have better safety technology, which can help to keep your kids safe.
If you’re driving an older model, not only is the safety technology a little out of date, but you’re more likely to experience a breakdown while driving. In addition, some types of vehicles are safer for kids than others.
For example, a minivan or SUV may have more safety features tailored towards kids than a small coupe or a jeep. If you decide to get a new vehicle, be sure to check out its safety ratings from the NHTSA to ensure it’s as safe as possible for your kids.
Use These Safety Tips for Driving
We hope these tips help you keep your kids safe while you drive. It’s important to protect your children at all times, not just when you’re at home.
With the above safety tips for driving, you can help to eliminate a lot of the dangers that come with driving with kids and give yourself a little more peace of mind.
Safe Driving!
