4 Tips To Stay Safe When Driving With Children On Florida's Roads
Corbin Sutter
Traffic Accidents
Adults can handle themselves mostly when going out for a drive, but when you are going on a summer trip across Florida with children on board, you would want to ensure that everything’s going to be safe and smooth. Florida's highways I-75, I-4, I-95, and Alligator Alley have heavy traffic and can be unpredictable, and so are the other drivers you’d be sharing the road with. By implementing safety precautions, you can enjoy a smooth-sailing ride and be prepared for any unexpected road mishaps. No matter what happens, keeping the kids secure in their seats increased their chances of staying safe.
Don’t let your anxiety eat you by remembering these safety tips when driving with children.
• Use Appropriate Child Safety Seats - There are child safety seats that you can be attached to your car seat. These special seats have an extra layer of protection that makes sure your child will be comfortable and secure in one place during the car ride. When choosing a child safety seat, make sure that it is the right size for your kid. Otherwise, it would not be able to do its job properly. Choosing a size too big would be too loose and your kid can easily slip away from the seat. A size that’s too small can be uncomfortable and constricting. The belts could even leave a mark or rash against your child’s skin.
In the event that an accident happens, the special child safety seat will lessen the effect of the impact on your child by securing it firmly in place. You would not worry about the child falling off or hitting any of their body parts against anything.
• Provide Entertainment For Children - Kids are a distraction on their own. As the driver, you could not afford to be distracted and you need to keep your eyes on the road. Kids without anything to do could start squirming and talking a lot with the intention of grabbing your attention.
This is why you should prepare a source of entertainment beforehand to keep them distracted the whole trip. This way, they would not try to grab your attention and cause you to lose focus on the road. Distracted driving is one of the top reasons behind many auto accidents, after all.
• Sit Your Kids In The Backseat - Always remember that only adults should sit in front of the car. The safest place for children will always be the backseat as it is the least likely to be affected if an accident happens. This also prevents your children from distracting you, or from playing with buttons and objects that help you drive. For example, you would want to keep their hands away from the stirring wheel.
• Explain The Importance Of Using Seatbelts - Many people treat seatbelts as an abomination, claiming it is restricting their movements. From an early age, you have to make children remember the importance of using seatbelts to keep themselves safe, as well as other traffic rules. This would help them keep the safety practices when they grow up and they would also know what to do in case something bad happens on the road. In fact, seat belt use in passenger vehicles is so effective it has saved an estimated 14,955 lives in 2017 alone.
While you doing everything you can to keep your Florida summer road trip safe is the best way to protect your friends and family while on the roads, it's other drivers that can cause the problems. If you, or someone you know has been hurt while on Florida's roads you may be entitled to compensation. Contact All Injuries Law Firm today for your 100% Free Attorney Consultation.