10 Tips for Automobile Travel

Squabbles between kids, endless bathroom stops, and continuous needs for snacks are an integral part of long family car rides. But compromising safety should not be. Yet the holiday spirit that often permeates vacations makes some parents less attentive to issues that can lead to mishaps. The day before you leave is a good time to go over your safety procedures.

1. Make sure car safety seats are correctly installed.

A majority of restraint systems are improperly installed, increasing a child’s risk of injury during a crash. Read manufacturer’s directions. Check if the seat’s manufacturer has your address in case of recalls. If you can’t reach them, call the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Auto Safety Hotline at (888) 327-4236. The NHTSA also has a website of locations in or near your community where your nstallation can be checked. Complete information about safety seats is also available from the American Academy of Pediatrics at http://www.aap.org/family/carseatguide.htm

2. Use booster seats for children until children are 8 years of age or 4'9" (144 centimeters) tall.

For children 4 to 7 years, this reduces injury risk by 59% compared to safety belts alone. Have children younger than 12 years of age ride in the back seat, eliminating the risk of injury from deployment of front passenger-side airbags. For children less than 16 years, riding in the back seat reduces the risk of injury by 40%.

3. Check if your car safety seat is acceptable for air travel.

Most seats purchased in recent years are (see TenTips: Air Travel). Having a seat appropriate for both cars and planes enables you to use your the seat in rental cars. Many rental agencies supply seats at additional cost but, ideally, use one you are familiar with.

4. Plan your route.

Stop at Visitors’ Centers, often located at state boundaries, in National Parks, and at airports, for example. Check emergency telephone numbers, weather and road conditions, and if there are areas to avoid. Cellular telephones and global positioning devices are especially helpful when driving in unfamiliar areas or at night. Stay on main highways in sparsely populated areas. In winter, carry warm clothes even for short rides, from your hotel to a restaurant, for example, in case your car breaks down.

5. Pack your children’s medications (see TenTips: Medical Kit.)

Never keep liquid items in the trunk in hot or cold weather or leave them inside the car if you are gone for more than a short time; many lose potency in heat or when frozen. In the sun, when the outside temperature is 78°F (26°C), a closed car will reach 90°F (32°CF in 5 minutes, and 110°F (43°C) in 25 minutes. Check with your pharmacy before using such items if left exposed.

6. Instruct children on safety inside the car.

Stop the car if kids become unwieldy. Roughhousing in the back seat is distracting to the driver. Children have landed in the driver’s lap. Don’t place heavy objects on back ledges. These become missiles in case of abrupt stops. Remind children not to dash out of cars when reaching the destination. Check locks and door openers to prevent accidentally locking small children inside.

7. Minimize motion sickness.

Children are more prone to become car sick than adults (see TenTips: Motion Sickness.) To minimize risk:

• Serve small, light snacks before and while driving. Give frequent small drinks of cold water, juice and soda.
• Don’t let children prone to motion sickness read, draw, or color.
• Place car seats so that children can see out the windows. Tell older children to focus on distant scenery.
• Keep cars cool and ventilated. Avoid strong odors. Get gas when children are not present.
• Stop frequently and allow children to exercise.
• Avoid winding roads and frequent traffic stops, if possible.
• Tell older children to breathe slowly and deeply for a minute or two when they feel sick.
• Drive during hours when children usually sleep.
• If medication is necessary, use dimenhydrinate (Dramamine) or diphenhydramine (Benadryl). Follow instructions.

8. Rent cars from well-known companies, especially overseas.

Their cars are more likely to be well maintained and have safety seats. Reputable agencies are generally good sources of reliable information regarding local driving hazards. In some countries driving at night is especially dangerous.

9. Consider leaving the driving to others overseas.

In developing countries most roads are poorly designed and overcrowded, many drivers are poorly trained, laws concerning vehicular safety and speed enforcement are lax, and emergency medical services may be nonexistent. Driving in countries where traffic moves on the left takes time to get used to. Country-specific driving information can be obtained from the Association for Safe International Road Travel (ASIRT) at www.asirt.org.

10. Consider the pros and cons of taking the family dog.

Leaving pets at home present problems, but taking them along does too. Many dogs are unaccustomed to long drives, become unruly and car sick, and distract drivers. Dogs have landed in drivers’ lap, and been lost or killed darting out when doors open. Unrestrained ones become missiles in sudden stops, injuring themselves and people. Placing dogs in crates or harnesses is also problematic.