{"id":15405,"date":"2017-12-11T22:00:20","date_gmt":"2017-12-11T20:00:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/responsive.jozikids.co.za\/zaparents\/?p=15405"},"modified":"2022-06-21T12:36:48","modified_gmt":"2022-06-21T10:36:48","slug":"16-road-trip-tips-for-the-festive-season","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.jozikids.co.za\/blog\/parenting\/safety\/16-road-trip-tips-for-the-festive-season\/","title":{"rendered":"16 road trip tips for the festive season"},"content":{"rendered":"

Yikes. Travelling over the festive season is NOT for the faint-hearted. Here are some tips for safe car travels, and for taking your littlies along without wanting to murder someone en route. Have a gorgeous December.<\/span><\/p>\n

Getting ready<\/h2>\n

1. Get your car serviced, if it\u2019s due for one, or take it for a pre-holiday check to ensure that it\u2019s roadworthy\u00a0before departure. The lights and indicators, windscreen wipers, brakes, steering, and exhaust system should all be carefully examined for faults.<\/p>\n

2.Your tyres are the only thing between your car and the road, so it\u2019s important to ensure their continued good condition. Get a qualified mechanic to inspect all four tyres, including the spare, to confirm sufficient tread for the road ahead.<\/p>\n

3. Check that your vehicle and drivers\u2019 licences are up to date \u2013 no-one likes a long, inconvenient stop at a roadblock, nor a resulting fine.<\/p>\n

4. Make sure you have a fully inflated spare tyre, a wheel jack and spanner, two reflective triangles, jumper cables, a torch, a bottle of water, and a basic first aid kit with you.<\/p>\n

On the road<\/h2>\n

1. You\u2019re probably planning on using Google Maps or a GPS unit. But it can be fun for older kids to track your progress on a real, printed-out road map, using a marker. Let them trace your route as you go.<\/p>\n

2. Safety first. Stop every 200km or every two hours to rest, refuel and refresh. But take a break immediately\u00a0<\/em>if you experience headaches, tired eyes, fuzzy vision, drifting attention, drowsiness or yawning, delayed reaction times, or the car wandering across the road.<\/p>\n

3. If the worst happens, and you\u2019re in an accident while travelling, take photos with a camera or mobile phone. Then, file an accident report at the police station nearest to the accident, because you\u2019ll need a case number for your insurance company to file a claim. Get the names, addresses, phone numbers and ID numbers of everyone involved.<\/p>\n

4. Avoid stopping on the highway itself. Rather take an offramp and stop in a public area to stretch, refresh, and get a break from driving. Roadside rest\u00a0stops often have lovely views, kids love picnics, and fresh air can be invigorating when you\u2019ve been driving for a few hours.<\/p>\n

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activekids.com<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Safety & security<\/h2>\n

1. Keep your insurance company’s phone number on speed dial, as well as the number for emergency\u00a0roadside\u00a0assistance. If something goes wrong, pull onto the shoulder as quickly and safely as possible.<\/p>\n

2. Share your daily itinerary, including stop-overs, with a friend or family member. Text someone the name of the place you stay each night and which city or town you plan to reach by the next night. If something bad happens, it\u2019s good for loved ones to know where you are.<\/p>\n

3. Buckle everyone<\/em>\u00a0up! Correctly installed child car seats can reduce the need for toddler hospitalisation by up to 69% after a road crash. The new National Road Traffic Act says children under 3 years old must be strapped into a car seat, and those under 1.3m tall in a booster seat.<\/p>\n

4. \u2018Tis the season for\u2026 Shopping, shopping, shopping. But at this time of year, criminals are shopping too! Travel with your car\u2019s windows and doors locked and keep valuables out of sight or hidden in the boot.<\/p>\n

Kid specific<\/h2>\n

If you\u2019re driving with kids this festive season, be prepared. Over-prepared. You can never have too many wet wipes or snacks. Fill a bag with games, toys, favourite objects, extra clothes, pull-up nappies, medicine, a portable DVD player or iPad \u2013 and headphones!<\/p>\n

Old-fashioned mind games<\/strong> still work well to distract kids from asking \u2018Are-We-There-Yet?\u2019 the whole way to your destination:<\/p>\n