“Road trip!”
School’s out! Time for summer vacations! Many of us are going to be hitting the road this summer with our families. We have to remember the sunscreen, but we also have to remember road safety.
How do you keep your family safe on the road? Here are ten tips that I need to pay attention to (especially #1):
1. Leave early and allow extra time. Did you ever notice how differently you drive when you are in a hurry? This is my biggest danger point. I’m chronically late and end up rushing.
2. If you can’t get out of the house early, remember that safety is more important than timeliness. Calm down and Slow down!
3. Chill. Keep the temperature inside your car cool. Don’t let the summer heat, heat you up and make you sleepy. Warm temperatures combined with miles and miles of stripes on the road can make you snooze. Have a preventative maintenance check on air conditioning equipment before you leave on a long trip.
4. Chill – emotionally, too! Don’t let the behavior of other drivers get under your skin. You need to be calm and rational, even if other drivers aren’t! If another driver challenges you, slow down and avoid any conflict. It’s just plain not worth it!
5. Put your phone in the glove box. Texting, talking, even just looking for your phone can be a distraction that can cause an accident.
6. Do I even need to say this? Never, never, and never, drink and drive.
7. Keep your car in well-maintained condition. A breakdown or flat tire can not only slow you down, it can cause an accident.
8. If you have a chip in your windshield, get it fixed! 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. A chip could turn into a crack at any time, often when you are least expecting it. Windshield repair is often a safe and economical alternative to a full windshield replacement.
9. Even if it’s sunny when you leave home, prepare for limited visibility conditions. Make sure your windshield wiper blades are in good condition. You may find yourself needing washer solution, make sure the tanks are full. If a summer storm comes up, you may need your headlights – not only for you to see, but for others to see you. Make sure they are clean and in working order.
10. Know the car seat laws and obey them. Always. There is no trip too short, too long, too slow, or too quick that means you don’t have to have your child in a car seat. It’s essential that you protect children while they’re riding in your car. In general, every child should ride in the back seat.nd they should use a car safety seat if they’re less than 4 feet 9 inches tall. Following these guidelines helps prevent injuries during a car crash.
Disclosure:Â 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, http://safelite.socialmoms.com/about.
About Safelite AutoGlass:
Safelite AutoGlass® was founded in 1947. Throughout our more than 60 years of service, our company has grown from a single store in Wichita, Kansas, to a national auto glass provider, serving nearly 4 million customers per year.
Through industry-leading 24-hour instant scheduling, convenient in-shop or mobile service, top-of-the-line materials and SafeTechâ„¢ certified technicians, you’ll find that Safelite AutoGlass offers superior customer service, value and quality.
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Great tips and you reminded me that I need to get my windshield repaired.
Great tips! I tend to be one of the last minute rushers. I’ve been trying to break myself of the habit lately. When I am running behind I try to do number 2. Getting there late is definitely better than not getting there at all.
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