Exploring England’s capital by car is an exciting journey to take up with your family. It’s a great way to get around the large city and experience what it has to offer first-hand. Although it can be fun, you’ll need to be a bit more cautious when traveling with kids.
Whether you’re going on the road during a long weekend or a couple of weeks during summer vacation, besides packing the best snacks, have these driving safety tips in mind before hitting the open road.
Schedule a Tune-Up
Before going on the road, do a safety check on your vehicle by checking its tire pressure, wipers, oil or water levels, lights, and air conditioning. It’s best to do all the necessary repairs to avoid breakdowns, ensuring safety and peace of mind.
Plan Breaks and Rest for the Night
When going on a long road trip, it’s best to take breaks every two hours to stretch your legs and let the kids play outside and get some fresh air. Doing this ensures you stay in the optimal condition to drive while preventing your kids from getting restless. Additionally, it’s best to stop for the night at an affordable accommodation to ensure you have enough sleep and energy for the next day. Rest is important when going on road trips since driving tired can be dangerous, so take breaks every two hours and rest for the night for everyone’s safety.
Scour the Backseats
Every stop you make, check your kids on the backseats to ensure they’re comfortable, safe, and not meddling with something they’re not supposed to. Ensure you check if all child safety locks are activated and away from curious hands, remove choking hazards like loose change and potential projectiles like toys to protect them if something wrong happens.
Buckle Up
After scouring the backseat, make sure you and your passengers are always buckled up properly, including using child safety seats for toddlers when required and that they remain buckled in whenever you’re driving.
Prepare for Roadside Emergencies
Driving long roads can be unpredictable, and breakdowns aren’t too uncommon. So, make sure you’re prepared to handle a situation like this by having an emergency kit in your vehicle with the essential needs of a car, such as extra engine oil, water, and tires. Additionally, having important phone numbers saved in your contacts is also ideal.
Never Drive Distracted
Distracted driving is the number one cause of car accidents globally, so lead by example for your kids and never drive distracted. However, family road trips can be challenging for drivers since it increases the chances for distraction, especially when traveling with young children. That’s why it’s wise to take extra precautions and keep your eyes on the road at all times.
If you need to use your smartphone, pull over to a safe spot, and don’t ever text or talk on the phone while driving. It’s also wise to remind your passengers not to distract you when you’re behind the wheel for everyone’s safety.
Touring the London boroughs by car can be a fun journey, especially with the family. It’s the perfect opportunity to experience the historic city while making memories with your loved ones. However, the road can be dangerous, so leave home with the safety tips mentioned in mind.
