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Driving and Safety

Your behavior on the road while driving is particularly important since you will need to get to your destination safely. It is important to always remember that our children are influenced by our driving habits and we are constantly watched by our family. Our children will likely adapt both our positive and negative habits to their own style of driving when they get their license and borrow our car! Driving and safety go hand in hand in protecting your family day-to-day and are important in the future for our children. The following are some driving safety tips that will guide you when navigating the roads.

GO To Driving Safety Checklists

Never drive when you are tired especially when your family is with you. Sometimes you may feel that you cannot leave your car behind or calling a cab will cost more than you simply getting on the road yourself. If you know you are too tired and cannot concentrate on the road, hand over the keys to your spouse or responsible teenager to drive. If you have a safe place to leave your car, call a taxi. Never drive when your concentration is compromised. Our family already knows us very well and can simply tell if we are already tired so role-modeling here is key.

Never use your mobile phone while you are behind the wheel. You may think that using the hands free mobile device can save you the effort of handling the headset, but it is still a distraction when you are behind the wheel. The impact of cell phone use on driving and safety is becoming more understood every day. You may receive unexpected news that will sidetrack your concentration, so avoid picking up the cell phone when driving. You can always call back after you have arrived safely. Again, as parents this is a number one rule our teens are expected to follow so demonstrate the use of this rule each and every time you are in the car.

Never, ever drive when you are under the influence of alcohol, prescription drugs or over the counter medication Whether you are alone in your car or your family is with you, never drive when intoxicated. The effects are very well known - car accidents, loss of lives, and criminal charges. If anything, as a parent or caregiver, you should be the role model for your family, and driving while under the influence of alcohol or other substances are clearly the wrong thing to do - each and every time. We all know the effects of alcohol but remember, our children, especially older teens often know when we have taken over the counter medications. They see us suffering with a cold, from allergies or other pain conditions and understand that we must take something our doctor has prescribed or the local pharmacists has recommended. Both the safety and well-being of our children as passengers is our responsibility along with role-modeling what we will expect when they are behind the wheel. Talk about this issue often and always set a good example.

Special note about sleep-inducing medication. Our driving and safety is highly influenced by the side-effects of medication, especially drowsiness. Always ask your doctor or pharmacist about the side effects of any medicine that you take. If the medicine will cause drowsiness, your doctor will tell you to avoid driving or operating any machinery. Take the time to understand your medication side-effects, you may be surprised about onset sleepiness.

All passengers must wear their seat belt in the vehicle at all times. This is a safety rule that is paramount to follow each time you are either driving or a passenger in a car. It is important to discuss this with care-givers and other family members, who may be taking your child in their vehicle. The car simply does not leave the parking spot until all occupants in the car have their seat belts securely fashioned. Also, wearing your seat belt properly is necessary for it to fully protect you in case of a collision. No belts slipped under the arm! For more information about seat belts in general or concerning infant, toddler and other young passengers see our Seat Belt and Car Seats section.

Always have safety equipment in your vehicle. A properly stocked First Aid kit, a fire extinguisher and a survival kit is a great idea to have in your car at all times and especially important during bad weather. In case of a collision, you will be able to tend to any injuries before help arrives or you can get to the hospital. The ability to put out a fire in the engine before it can reach the gas tank can quickly take care of a serious issue before any one is injured. Also, having the necessities to wait out a bad storm with blankets, water and some food can keep you safe along with making it easier for every one to cope.

Never be rude or disorderly when driving. Courtesy when driving goes a long way in settling a good example for your children and reducing your stress while driving. Of course, other drivers do get under our skin but it is part of driving. Flaring up or losing your temper will only land you into more trouble and leave a negative impression with your family. If you should find yourself in an altercation with another driver keep your cool, exchange insurance information if you are involved in a minor accident and when dealing with traffic officers, simply show your driver's license and insurance slip. This is often a very distressing time but it is important to get through it as well as we can - if we are upset, yelling at other drivers or very pre-occupied with right and wrong we may not impart the information we need to share in a clear manner. There is no doubt we are upset and angry but losing our cool is not going to help the situation.

There are many more things we can all do to address our driving and safety while operating a vehicle and if you follow these simple rules here, you and your family will be off to a great start in remaining safe while traveling on our roadways.