Driving with your kids can be a wonderful adventure or an experience that can drive you crazy, and there’s usually a fine line between the two. Children are unpredictable and a very difficult to please audience, especially when you have a long drive ahead of you or when you’re on a road trip. One minute you’re all having a great time and the next chaos breaks loose. That’s the normal course of events parents expect when they get behind the wheel.
When traveling with children, you usually focus on countless other things apart from driving, and that can be extremely challenging, not to mention dangerous. So what can parents do to make sure everyone is happy and enjoying smooth and safe drives? We have a few useful tips for you that will help you keep your cool and make your next trips safer and a bit more pleasant.
Child car seats are a must
Until children are old enough to use the car’s seat belts, they must travel in car seats and booster. This is not a recommendation, but a rule all parents should know and follow to ensure their kids’ safety. Unfortunately, many people choose to ignore it and that can have disastrous consequences. Since each state has different regulations regarding the use of children car seats, you should learn about the rules that apply in your state. So, if you’re planning on driving to Indiana with your family soon, see here the Indiana car seat laws before you begin your trip. Also make sure to choose a car seat that is the right size for your kid and follow the instructions when using it.
Buckle up
Now that you’re properly equipped, you’re ready to hit the road, but not before you put your seat belts on. That goes for the driver and all the passengers in the car as well. What good would a child car seat do if you forget to buckle up your kid? Check if the seat is properly secured with tethers and latches every time you prepare for a drive and then make sure your kids have their seat belts on. Every person in the car must use a seat belt, regardless of their age or where they sit in the car. This brings us to another important aspect: where kids should sit. Children under the age of 12 should always ride in the back seats of the car.
Choose a reliable car
Driving a sports car might be your dream, but when kids are in the picture priorities change and you have to choose a car that is suitable for your family. That means you have a bit of research to do in order to find the right car. Whether you want to purchase a vehicle from a Lincoln dealership DFW or elsewhere, make sure you do your homework and ask all the right questions before you seal the deal. That includes learning about safety features, reliability, cargo space and every other aspect that is relevant for the safety and comfort of your family.
Avoid distractions
Yes, easier said than done when your kids are in the back seats fighting or when your 4 year old starts screaming for no apparent reason. But if these are situations you can’t really avoid most of the time and you simply have to get used to it, there are other things that can steal away your focus. Shall we call out the main culprit? You’ve probably guessed it already
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