Tips and Tricks for Surviving a Road Trip with the Kids

Are you thinking about packing up and heading out on one last family road trip before summer comes to an end? Have no fear! Here are some tips to keep you and your kids sane during the drive!

· Pack Strategically: Pack everything you will need access to while on the road separately from your other luggage. This way you won’t have to dig around in your suitcase for something small like bug spray or sunscreen. It’s also a good idea to keep a change of clothes handy for you and your kids. You never know when an unexpected mess will pop up.

· Plan your travel time around your child’s sleep schedule: Ensure your departure is timed just right so your child can catch some zz’s on the road. If you leave before lunchtime you can allow them to have lunch in the car. They’ll nod off in no time, allowing you to have some quiet driving time. Just try not stop while your child is sleeping, it’s a sure-fire wake-up call. Some people also travel at their child’s bedtime. This is effective as long as you’re not too tired to drive!

· Stop at regular intervals: Your kids will start to get a little antsy after 2-3 hours of driving. It’s important to make regular stops every couple of hours so everyone can stretch their legs. A quick game of tag in a park or exploring a “hokey” roadside attraction is a good way to help them spend some energy and to make the time on the road fun!

· Prevent backseat meltdowns: Road trips are no fun when you spend the whole time trying to keep siblings from fighting with one another. Keep you kids equipped with toys, well-fed, and well rested. This should help reduce the sibling squabbles allowing you to drive in peace.

10 Items You Should ALWAYS Have in Your Car

1. Flashlight: A compact LED flashlight is bright and will easily fit in to your glove box! You’ll be happy to have it when you need to change a tire on a dimly lit road. It’s always a good idea to keep some spare batteries close at hand as well.

2. Tire pressure gauge: Keep it in the center console as a little reminder to check your tire pressure each month. Low tire pressure can cause dangerous blowouts, so make sure to stay on top of it.

3. First-aid kit: Minor cuts and bruises happen while you’re on the road (especially if you’re traveling with kids). Keep a first aid kit with the essentials in your car so you can patch it up and keep on going!

4. Owner’s manual: If you purchase a used car and it’s not included, make sure to order a new one. The owner’s manual has all kinds of useful info for maintenance of your car!

5. Tire-changing tools- Always double check to make sure you have ALL of the necessary tools to change a flat. It’s also a good idea to check and make sure your spare tire is properly inflated.

6. Warning triangles: These are a replacement for flares. If you’re broken down on the side of the road place them 10, 100 and 200 feet behind your car to give oncoming traffic plenty of notice that your car is immobile.

7. Multi-tool: Carry a multi-tool that is equipped with a knife, pliers, screwdriver tips and scissors. This can help you make a quick fix in an emergency situation.

8. Jumper cables: There’s nothing worse than turning the ignition key and realizing your battery is dead. If you have a set of jumper cables handy and a friend to help you out you can get your car back on the road in no time.

9. A map or atlas: I know, it sounds old fashioned, but remember GPS’ can lose their signal, or even their battery power. It’s good to have a back-up just in case

10. Gloves: A pair of leather work gloves will make it easy for you to touch things that may be too hot. They will also keep your hands clean if you need to change a tire.

Get the Most out of Your Fuel Mileage

 



As gas prices continue to increase the best way to protect your pocket book is to increase your fuel mileage. Here are a few tips to keep your car green in more ways than one.

· Set your tires to the proper inflation: Properly inflated tires can reduce fuel consumption by up to 3%. It’s best to check your tires at least once a month, preferably once a week for the best results.

· Check the condition of your air filter: A dirty air filter can reduce fuel economy and even make an engine stall out when idling.

· Replace the fuel filter according to the car manufacturers recommended schedule: This will really help maximize your fuel efficiency.

· Take a load off: Try to minimize the amount of weight you’re carrying around. An extra 100 pounds can increases fuel consumption by 1-2%. If you don’t need it, take it out of the car.

· Get a tune up: A properly tuned engine can maximize power and increase fuel economy.

Keep Discourteous Drivers at Bay: Kill em’ with Kindness

We all get frustrated with those drivers that think they’re the only people on the road, but it’s important to put our safety first. Here are few common situations, and the do’s and don’ts of how to handle them.
Situation: A driver cuts you off for no apparent reason.

o Do: Maintain a safe following distance.

o Don’t: Tailgate them. If they’re as mean and nasty as you suspect them of being, they can very easily slam on their brakes and cause you a bigger headache.
Situation: Someone is talking on their cell phone (without using a hands-free device) while also trying to drive a stick shift. They’re swerving in and out of your lane carelessly while you are desperately looking for an escape route

o Do: Honk your horn (but in a nice way) to let the driver know they are endangering other people’s lives with their behavior. Try to maintain a safe distance until they are able to get their mind back on the road.

o Don’t: Lean on your horn and struggle to catch their eye so you can mean-mug them. This will cause you to take your eyes off the road as well, and you need to stay focused on driving.

Remember to keep your cool and think safety first in all situations! 

 

Three Common Driving Distractions and How to Deal with Them

1. Chatting with passengers: Statistically, people get in to more accidents when their car is overloaded with chatty kathy’s. If you’re the driver it’s your responsibility to maintain the order in your vehicle. If their too talkative and you can’t concentrate, it’s ok to tell them to put a lid on it.

2. Playing DJ: There’s nothing better than cruising down the road to your favorite song but it can also be a huge distraction. Every time you take your eyes off the road to change the radio station, or switch the song, you take the risk of getting in to an accident. To avoid this make sure your playlist is ready to go before you get in the car, that way you aren’t tempted to mess around with it while behind the wheel.

3. The infamous cell phone: This is the most important one! If you must talk on the phone, make sure that you are connected to a hands-free device. We recommend putting your phone away all together. If it’s an emergency, pull over to the side of the road and have your conversation. No call or text is worth endangering your safety or the safety of someone else!