Whether traveling across country or across town, whether it’s summer vacation or a holiday trip to visit family or friends, it is important to keep safety in mind. Whatever the season, whatever the reason, make it a safe and fun trip.
Remember to keep an eye on seatbelts. Children often like to lay across the rear seat when sleeping on long trips and get out of their seatbelts. Children should always wear their seatbelts!
Be aware of changing speed limits. The limit will never be higher than 70 mph.
Move over for stopped emergency vehicles! Most states now have the Move Over Law
Check List
- Check all lights on vehicle to confirm they are working properly.
- Check vehicle fluids
- Check windshield wipers
- Have a flashlight.
- Flares and safety triangles are great when breakdowns occur.
- Keep water in the trunk in case of overheating.
- Jumper/Booster cables for a dead battery.
- Check tire pressure and tread (safety and gas mileage concern) Confirm a spare tire is present in the vehicle and check the condition/air pressure. Confirm a jack and all the tools needed are present. Aftermarket wheels and/or wheel locks often need special lug wrench adapters that fail to make their way in used cars. Familiarize yourself with jack instructions for your vehicle.
- Keep a car charger for the phone. Keep important phone numbers written down on paper in case the cellular phone battery dies and you don’t have a charger or the car battery is dead. If numbers are written down, a pay phone could be used. (People often have dead cell phones and they can’t access the “phonebook” feature to retrieve numbers)