Follow These Vacation Tips to Keep Your Family Safe

Holiday Driving

Taking the family on a summer vacation can be an exciting adventure! But what should you do with all of this food? What about extra items like beach chairs and toys? This is a long trip for the kids. You need to relax, but how?

Vacations are supposed to be relaxing, but for parents they can be even more stressful than the day-to-day. It is important to figure out the safest and most convenient way to go about this summer adventure.

Packing Cargo On Top of the Car

If your car has a roof rack, you can attach a car top carrier. This can free up space in the vehicle so passengers can ride more comfortably, or so that you can carry twice the amount of luggage.

But before you hit the road, there are several safety precautions to consider. First, check your vehicle’s manual to find the weight limits for rooftop cargo. The weight limit will depend on the type of vehicle you have but is usually between 75 and 250 pounds. Exceeding the weight limit increases the risk of an accident.

Distribute the weight evenly when you pack the car top carrier. Pack the heaviest items at the bottom because the items in the carrier will shift during the trip.

Understand that adding weight to the top of the vehicle will give you a higher center of gravity. This could put your vehicle at risk for flipping. Take turns slowly and avoid stopping or accelerating quickly.

Make sure the car top carrier is secured to your vehicle properly by following all instructions. Driving with a car top carrier improperly placed on your vehicle may cause damage and increases the risk of damage of the cars around you, especially those behind you if it were to fall off.

Lastly, be careful when entering parking garages or driving under low bridges. It can be easy to forget that the carrier is up there, so write a sticky note and put it on your dashboard if you have to!

Transporting Food

Preparing food to take with you on a vacation can save you money on grocery and restaurant bills. However, traveling with food can be a headache, so make a game plan.

Try to allow yourself extra time if you are going to bring cooked food. Once you cook the food, cool it then transfer it to easily sealable containers such as Tupperware. These containers are usually stackable which makes them easier to take on a trip.

Transport frozen items in a freezer bag or cooler and cook once you get to your destination.

If you do not have access to a cooler, place foods in front of an air conditioning vent if possible. This mimics a refrigerator and will help preserve freshness. To prevent spoiling, cold foods should not be above about 45 degrees Fahrenheit for more than four hours. If you are traveling for more than four hours, it might be a better idea to leave the perishable items at home.

Keeping the Kids Entertained

An Australian research study found that kids are 12 times more distracting to drivers than cellphones. To decrease distractions from your little ones, try to keep them entertained. Smart phones and tablets have apps for kids, but you don’t want them staring at a screen for extended periods of time. You can pack crayons and coloring sheets or play road trip games such as I Spy, alphabet or license plate scavenger hunts, hangman, tic tac toe, etc. You can also get creative and make up your own games!

Summer vacations make for great memories. Ensure the safety of your family on your road trips by following this safety advice. Also, if you are a customer of Infinity, be sure to sign up for Infinity's Free Roadside Assistance Program!

For great rates on car insurance, visit our Auto Quote Page.

The materials available in the Knowledge Center are for informational purposes only and not for the purpose of providing legal advice. You should contact legal counsel to obtain advice with respect to any particular issue or problem. Use of this website or any of the links contained within the website do not create representations or warranties of any kind, express or implied, about the completeness, accuracy, reliability, suitability or availability with respect to the website or the information, products, services, or related graphics contained on the website for any purpose. Any reliance you place on such information is therefore strictly at your own risk.