Safety tips for your next family road trip

There’s nothing better than a road trip to bond with your family. Sing-alongs, taking in the new sights, and getting to your chosen destination are exciting parts of being on the road. Packing the whole family into the car can often be chaotic so it’s essential to take steps to ensure optimal safety during your road trip. While accidents do happen, using these tips will help you prevent any problems as best you can, and deal with any that arise.

Get a general tune-up

Before you go on your road trip, make sure to book your car in for a tune-up. Have a mechanic check over the vehicle to see if they spot anything problematic that could cause you trouble on the road. Have your tire pressure checked and air topped up as well as an oil change if needed. If you’re going to be towing anything, such as a trailer or boat, you may also want your filter changed. You’ll also want to make sure all your fluids are full and that all belts are in good shape.

Plan for an emergency

Ideally, you won’t face any emergencies on your family road trip, but it’s important to be prepared just in case. You’ll want to pack an emergency kit in your car that contains the following items:

• Extra water
• Flashlight
• Booster cables
• Tire-changing tools
• First-aid kit
• A fully charged cell phone
• Blankets
• Flares

Also, invest in a roadside assistance plan so you that if you break down, you can call for help. Many insurance companies will add on roadside assistance for you, and it’s definitely worth the extra cost to ensure you won’t need to worry in the case of an emergency. Handling car accident injury is something you’ll need to consider as well, and it’s crucial to have a plan in place. Having a lawyer specialising in car accident injuries to consult if there’s an injury will help reduce your stress if it happens.

Utilise child safety features

You can’t always have your eyes on the kids in the backseat and children are often curious, especially when in the car for hours on end. Make sure you utilise any safety features your vehicle has, such as child locks on the doors and windows to make sure the kids are safe. Have a good look through the backseat before leaving to check for items that could be hazards to your kids, like small items they could choke on.

It’s also important to make sure no loose items are lying around that could hit them if you have to make a quick stop or get in an accident. Try to put as much as you can in the trunk of your car. That will eliminate the items that need to be in the backseat.

It’s always important to get a good sleep before a long drive, make frequent stops to rest, fuel up, and stay energised and awake on your road trip. Using these tips will help you enjoy your road trip while minimising the potentials risks involved.