Summer Road Trip~ Top 10 Ways to Keep Your Family Safe on the Road

Summer is finally here~ yes, even in Northern PA.
It seems that the price of gas is not going to go to $5/gallon like 'they' told us it would so driving to your vacation destination might just be the cheapest way to travel.




As you're sightseeing across our beautiful country remember these 10 Ways to Stay Safe on the Road:

1. BUCKLE UP! Everyone. Always.
2. Don't change the CD/DVD while you are driving.  Pull of to the side of the road while you're fiddling with your radio or entertainment system.
3. Make the car a 'scream free zone.'  Kids screaming in the back of the van can be very distracting to the driver.  Make it a rule to keep the volume low.
4. Think you can ignore a chip in your windshield? Think again! The windshield provides up to 30% of your vehicles structural integrity, and a chip smaller than 6 inches (or the size of a dollar bill) can easily be repaired by filling it with a special resin.
5. Pack each child their own 'survival' bag.  Include toys, easy crafts, snacks, juice boxes and books and make sure they are within easy reach.  The driver needs to be concentrating on the road~ not refereeing fights over crayons or reaching behind their seat for the snack bag.
6. Program your GPS before you leave.  If something comes up, pull over to use the GPS~ NEVER mess with it while you're driving!
7. Did you know that automobile safety experts rank the windshield as the 3rd most important safety feature on your vehicle?  It's important to keep your windshield in top condition.  Forget do-it-yourself repair kits. The resin could easily shrink or yellow, lowering the quality of the repair. Safelite AutoGlass uses a patented repair process… A vacuum is created over the damaged area and the resin penetrates and fills the finest micro-cracks. The technician pulls off the vacuum changer and the UV light hardens the resin. Safelite’s resin is proven to be the strongest and longest lasting on the market. 
8. Have your car seat installation checked by a qualified individual before you leave.
9. Take breaks often.  This will keep you energized and lower the chance of getting sleepy behind the wheel.
10. Properly secure all cargo.  Did you ever see work vans from the cable company or your HVAC guy with the metal gate separating the front seats from the cargo area?  Know why they do that?  To protevt the driver in case of an accident.  Everything in your car become airborne in an accident.  Be careful to make sure that your family won't be injured by flying objects.

Keep these 10 hints in mind when preparing for your next trip!  A few extra minutes of work can save your loved ones from injury.
I wrote this blog post while participating in the SocialMoms and Safelite blogging program, for a gift card worth $30. For more information on how you can participate, click here.