The family road trip holds a special place in American tradition. Many individuals have happy memories when they consider road trips they took as kids. Perhaps they spent time with their family in a blissful situation far from their schoolwork or similar pressures.
If you’re an adult now, you might feel like you should take some family trips as well. You can make some pleasant memories with your own kids and visit places you enjoyed as a child. However, you should also understand that you must do everything in your power to stay safe while on those long car trips and avoid causing any collisions.
If you’re in an accident while on a family road trip, that will likely cause all kinds of headaches, even if you all escaped serious harm. If another driver hits you, for instance, you may have to consider suing them. That might involve understanding the two-year deadline for filing lawsuits that applies in most states, hiring a lawyer, etc.
You can’t predict what another driver might do, but you can at least control your own actions while on the road with your family. Let’s talk about some of the best ways to avoid accidents when you’re far from home with the whole gang in the car.
Talk to Your Kids About the Dangers of Distracting You Before You Leave
If you’re taking a family road trip and you have a toddler, you can’t very well talk to them about the danger of distracting you while you’re driving. You might mention it to them, but they’re too young for it to compute.
If you have older kids, though, who can understand when you tell them something and can retain the information, then you can take a few moments before you leave to explain that they shouldn’t distract you when you’re driving. You might emphasize that when you’re on the highway, and you’re driving fast, it’s very dangerous if they yell, kick the back of their seats, or do anything else that will cause you to take your eyes off the road.
You might offer them a new toy or some other incentive that you will give them once you arrive at your destination. Nothing says you can’t try a little bribery. It has worked for centuries as part of raising kids, and if that’s what it takes to keep the youngsters quiet when you’re on a long trip together, that’s fine.
Don’t Let Your Smartphone or the Car’s Touchscreen Distract You
You will doubtless have your smartphone with you on this trip. You might need it for a travel app with a map attachment, or maybe you just have it to communicate with relatives or to keep up with any urgent work emails.
Don’t let your phone distract you while you’re driving. You can glance at it if you’re using a map application on it, but for the most part, you’ll want to keep your eyes on the road. Don’t respond to any texts or calls that come in while you’re driving.
You might also have a modern car that comes complete with a large, colorful touchscreen. Most modern vehicles have one. These can feature navigation or map functionality that you might use instead of your smartphone while you’re driving.
It’s ironic, though, that the very screen meant to provide a useful map can distract you from the road. While you can glance at the screen with your peripheral vision, make sure it does not get your full attention, or that can cause a crash.
Play Games to Keep the Kids Entertained
You can also help to keep the kids entertained by playing some games with them so they won’t get cranky and distract you. If you have a spouse or partner, they might suggest a game like spotting bumper stickers from different states.
You might sing a song together. You may also bring along a book of Mad Libs or some other welcome distraction. If you have young children, and you’re taking a trip that lasts many hours, that will tax their patience, and possibly your own as well.
Stay Caffeinated
You can combat driving fatigue and avoid accidents by staying properly caffeinated. You might start with a coffee if you leave early in the morning. You can refill at a rest stop along the way.
If you’re more into energy drinks that have caffeine, taurine, guarana, and other stimulants, then one of those might perk you up if you’ve been driving for several hours. You may also go something like a Coke or a Mountain Dew.
Whatever you need to keep yourself energized while on a long trip, do it. You can also trade off driving duties with your spouse or partner if you have one.
If you have a teenager who now has a driver’s license, maybe they can handle some of the driving as well. Only do that, though, if you feel sure they can handle it. Maybe they’re a novice driver and don’t do well on the highway just yet.
Take Regular Breaks
You can also make sure that you don’t cause an accident by taking regular rest breaks. If you feel like you’re in danger of falling asleep at the wheel, then you know it’s time to pull over and hit a truck stop or gas station.
If you’re driving after sundown, it’s even more vital that you stop regularly. You can start dosing behind the wheel if you’re not careful.
You can stop at any scenic overlooks or interesting sights by the highway. If you’re in unfamiliar territory, you never know if you might spot something amazing you can all get out of the car and take pictures of before moving on. You can stretch your legs and refocus during these stops as well.
If you follow these easy rules, you should avoid any accidents, assuming you don’t encounter a speeding driver or one who’s doing something equally unsafe.