A family vehicle is commonplace in U.S. households. Driving may be how parents get the kids to school each day. The car might be used for family trips at the weekend or even vacations.
While it’s a good thing to be so mobile, children don’t always understand the dangers of the roadways. The following factors could help ensure that your family remains safe on their travels.
Vehicle safety
It’s important that any vehicle is well-maintained. Routine checks on the brakes, engine, steering and tires are especially important. It’s also vital that children have the appropriate seating. Younger children should have the appropriate size of car seat and older children should be able to securely fasten their seatbelts.
Safety conversations before traveling
As mentioned, children aren’t always aware of how dangerous the roadways can be. Having a conversation before you set off can help establish some ground rules. Children should know that they need to try not to distract the driver while the vehicle is in motion. This means not playing with loud toys, avoiding sibling fights and not repeatedly trying to get the attention of the driver.
If you’re a driver and you feel that the kids aren’t sticking to these rules, pull over, take a break and reinforce the importance of the rules.
Distracted driving is one of the leading causes of crashes in the U.S., which is why it’s so important to keep distractions to a minimum. Unfortunately, you can’t guarantee that other road users take distractions so seriously.
If you’ve been injured by a distracted driver, this is a form of negligence on their behalf. You may be entitled to compensation for this. Seek legal guidance to assess your options in more detail.