Driving Safely with Kids on Board

While stopped at a light, a cautious mom checks to make sure her rear view mirror shows the best view of following traffic. It’s important to stay alert to what’s happening on all sides.

Safe driving means avoiding distractions, paying attention to your own driving, planning ahead for the unexpected, and looking out for other drivers’ actions. Help keep you and your kids safe on the road with these tactics:

• Don’t just secure your child. Her mom or dad also should wear a seat belt every time. Kids learn from what you do as well as what you say, and this is an excellent behavior to demonstrate.
• Never use your phone while driving, especially with kids in the car. It’s not only unsafe, but also teaches them a particularly bad habit. With the frantic pace of many parents’ lives today, this is a tough rule to follow. But if you really need to make that call while in your car, pull off and park safely before doing so.
• Avoid other distractions as well. Research shows that about 16 percent of the time we’re driving, we’re also doing something else—such as eating, applying makeup, combing hair, or changing CDs.
• When you talk to your passengers, don’t take your eyes off the road to emphasize your point.
• Life doesn’t always allow us to be serene behind the wheel, but it’s good advice to steer clear of driving if you’re overtired, angry, or upset. And definitely don’t get behind the wheel if you’ve been drinking alcohol or taking drugs that affect concentration, coordination, or judgment.
• Keep a safe distance between you and the vehicle in front of you by following the “three-second rule.” At least three seconds should elapse between the time the vehicle ahead of you passes a given point—a sign, for example—and the time you reach the same point.
• Try not to drive directly beside another vehicle or in a driver’s blind spot. If you can’t see the inside rearview mirror of the vehicle ahead, the driver likely can’t see you, either.
• If a vehicle straddles the center line, makes wide turns, weaves, or stops abruptly, the driver may be impaired. Avoid an accident by turning right at the next corner or taking the next exit. If an oncoming vehicle appears to be crossing into your lane, pull over to the side and alert the driver by using the horn and flashing your headlights.
• Don’t challenge aggressive drivers by attempting to “hold your own” in the lane. Try to move out of their way safely. Avoid conflict … even if you’re right.