If you drive, and you also have kids, then you probably know that you need to try to keep them as safe as possible when they are in the car with you. While you should always drive safely, it becomes even more important with young ones in the car. Your children rely on you to get them safely from point A to point B, whether that is soccer practice, school, or any other destination.
In this article, we’ll talk about things you can do keep your children safe in the car. We will also go over the kinds of behaviors you want to avoid.
Put Them in a Car Seat till They’re the Appropriate Age
Children eight and above can sit in the front seat of a car, but if they’re younger than that, they generally need to sit in a car safety seat. Experts recommend that you strap them into one in the back seat, facing forward.
In most instances, you must wait till a child reaches a certain age, height, or weight to transfer them to a regular seat in the car. You will want to restrain them with a seatbelt then, just like one you use yourself.
If you’re not sure about what age, height, or weight a child should reach before you remove their child safety seat from the car, ask their doctor. They can tell you what they recommend, and they might also mention some car seats that they think will work best for your child.
Don’t Let Their Behavior Distract You
You need to avoid letting anything distract you while you’re driving and you have a child or children in the car. That includes not letting the children themselves distract you.
Maybe you have a child who doesn’t do too well on car trips. They might cry, scream, or try to kick the seat in front of them.
That might irritate you, but you always need to focus on the road ahead. If you look back at your child to try to soothe them and you take your eyes off the road, that moment might cause an accident if a car in front of you stops suddenly. You might also veer out of your lane if you’re not paying close enough attention.
If you feel like it will help, talk to your child about how they need to keep still and quiet during car rides. If they’re old enough to understand, then that might help control them.
If they’re toddlers, then you probably can’t talk them out of crying or screaming. Instead, it’s best that you attempt to distract them.
What Can You Use to Placate Your Child?
If you have a toddler who tends to cry and make a lot of noise in the car, to keep from them distracting you, give them something to occupy them. If they’re old enough, you can give them a book. If they can’t read yet, though, you may do better giving them a toy.
You might also look for a car that has a built-in infotainment system, if you can afford one. Many modern cars now have screens on the backs of the driver’s seat and the front passenger’s seat.
You can put on a cartoon show or something else that you know your child likes. If they’re watching an educational show or a cartoon, then maybe that will occupy them while you’re driving, and they will stay still and quiet.
Don’t Drink and Drive
You should also know not to drink alcohol and drive. You never want to do that, since it can endanger both you and the other drivers and pedestrians around you. However, if you have your kids in the car with you, it becomes even more crucial.
You know that you probably have a problem with either alcohol or your decision making if you drink to the point where you are over the legal limit, and then you drive. If you do it with your kids in the car, though, that’s incredibly reckless behavior.
If you ever even feel tempted to do something like that, then you need to reevaluate your relationship with alcohol. You might need to cut back or start to attend AA meetings.
Don’t Speed
You need to avoid speeding with your children in the car as well. Whether you’re driving around residential neighborhoods or you’re on the highway, if you have your kids in the car, you need to stick to the speed limit. If you’re on the highway, you certainly don’t want to exceed the speed limit by more than five miles per hour or so.
Sticking to the posted speed limit will help make sure that no cops pull you over, but it will also keep you and your children safe. If you speed, then you’re endangering both them and yourself.
Don’t Let Food or Drinks Distract You
You should also make sure that food or drinks don’t distract you when you have your children in the car. If you stop at McDonald’s or Burger King, you can grab your favorite item from the drive through. Maybe it makes the car smell great, and you can’t wait to get home to dig in.
If you try to eat or drink while driving, though, that might cause an accident. If you have your child in the car, you might never forgive yourself if the crash hurts them severely.
Wait till you get home to eat your food, or else stay in the parking lot while you eat it, and then get back out on the road when you conclude your meal. You might also just go into the restaurant and sit down if you feel like having the food in the vehicle with you might distract you.
If you avoid problematic driving behaviors and stick to safe ones, then you will likely get your kids and yourself safely to your destination every time.
