This holiday season, take a moment & make sure you’re traveling safely. And remember to share these tips with your loved ones!
ON THE ROAD
Watch out for Distracted Drivers and Pedestrians
- Shopping center parking lots are busier during the holidays. Keep an eye out for distracted pedestrians and drivers who may not be paying attention to you, especially when backing out of parking spaces.
- For parents of teens, remind them to be extra alert during this holiday season, when conditions are more challenging even for experienced drivers.
- Make sure you are not distracted while driving. Commit to keeping your phone down. No text message or play list is worth the risk.
Make Sure Every Passenger has a Seat Belt, Car Seat or Booster Seat
- Remember to buckle up every ride, every time, whether it’s the long trip to visit family or around the block to the mall.
- When traveling in large groups, all riders in a vehicle need their own seat belt or car seat, even for short rides.
- Check your car seat before holiday travel. Seventy-three percent of car seats are not used or installed correctly, so check it before you hit the road. Here’s a quick car seat checklist to help you out. It takes only 15 minutes. If you are having even the slightest trouble, questions or concerns, certified child passenger safety technicians are able to help or even double check your work. Find a local Safe Kids coalition.
- Safety in the car goes beyond your little ones. Kids who have outgrown a forward-facing harness seat are not ready for a seat belt or front seat yet. They are safest in a booster seat that enables the adult seat belt to fit properly. Even when children have graduated from booster seats, they should remain in the back seat until they reach the age of 13.
Expect the Unexpected on the Road
- Have an Exit Strategy on the Road. So now the car is packed, the kids are in the right seat, the seats are installed properly, and you’re on the open road. Nothing can stop you now, right? Wrong. That’s when you hear that all too familiar “howl that means “I want food” or “Change my diaper.” When it happens, please don’t worry about making good time. Instead, get off at the next exit and find a safe area to feed or change your child.
- You never know when you have to stop abruptly, so keep hot foods, large gifts and anything that can become a projectile in the trunk.
- If you are headed to a party and plan to drink alcohol, designate a driver or use a car service to make sure you get home safely.
Remember to watch out for distracted drivers in busy parking lots, use designated drivers when out drinking, don’t text and drive and always buckle up.
Follow this link for an interactive way to remind you how to be safe during this holiday season while traveling near and far.
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