Key Tips for Safer Travel with Kids

Jun 8, 2016

Summer time, especially in the United States, means much more frequent travel on the road. Amidst barbeques, camping trips, and long drives there’s a biting concern in the back of every parents’ mind — safety. While most of us will have the basics covered, there are a few extra ways to increase the overall safety of your passengers. Here are a couple of additional tips from Classic Toyota to get ready for summer car outings.

According to statistics from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, three out of four child car seats are not installed correctly. This is something that needs special attention, especially since they are meant to protect the kids. Our Toyota dealership wants to make sure everyone does their part in reducing the numbers from organizations like the NHTSA.

Toyota’s “Buckle Up for Life” safety-promoting program shared a few tips to increase the chances of survival in the possible event of a crash.

The “Inch Test” and “Pinch Test” are reliable ways to test the child seat — by pinching the car seat strap at the shoulder, a visible wrinkle may come out. If that’s the case, the strap isn’t tight enough. Grab the seat from the back and bottom and tug it, moving it sideways; if it budges, the seat isn’t well-prepared.
Don’t add towels or layers — any extra material may impair the seat’s functions in the event of an emergency.
Be aware of the temperature — If the car is heated up, take the time to cool it off before letting the child enter.
Car seat renting may be riskier — the product could possibly be more impaired than it appears.
Mind loose items — be careful of objects that could potentially increase harm in the case of a crash.

We hope that these tips are helpful and that the pointers help in making sure that potential crash damage is kept minimal.

Many vehicles in our inventory uphold high safety standards, such as the 2016 Toyota Camry. Learn more by visiting our Toyota dealership serving Waukegan, IL.