Summer Travel Safety Tips

Embracing the sun-drenched days of summer often means more time on the road, exploring new destinations or revisiting cherished ones with your family. Britax is here to help ensure that your summer adventures are not only memorable but also safe. Here are some essential summer travel safety tips to help keep your family protected and comfortable, whether you're embarking on a long journey or enjoying the sights and sounds of your local area. 

Car Seat Safety

• Car Seat Check: Before you start your trip, take some time to review your child's car seat installation. Be sure to go over the installation instructions, height and weight requirements, and safety checks provided in the user guide. Ensure that the fit is snug and the installation is secure to help keep your child both safe and comfortable. For peace of mind, consider attending a car seat check event or scheduling a consultation with a child passenger safety technician.

Stroller Maintenance

• Stroller Check: Before packing up your stroller for your family vacation, ensure that it’s clean and that the brakes are working properly. For an in-depth guide to preparing your stroller for vacation, check out our stroller cleaning and maintenance article. 
  
  If you’re heading to a destination like an amusement park, check the stroller size requirements ahead of time. Compact strollers, like the Britax Juniper™, are ideal for travel and can help you save trunk space. Juniper also features our FastPack™ system with one-hand RapidFold™ so you can fold, grab, and go without stopping — perfect for keeping up with your energetic little ones on family vacations.

Vehicle Safety

• Routine Car Checks: Vehicle breakdowns can quickly turn a fun family vacation into a sour outing. Before you hit the road, ensure that your car is ready for the extra miles by checking the oil, tires, fluids, air conditioning, and battery. You can also help ensure that everyone has a comfortable and relaxing ride by cleaning out your car and your child’s car seat ahead of time.

Smart Packing for the Road

• Secure Storage: One often overlooked travel safety tip is secure and organized packing. Road trips require all kinds of snacks, toys, entertainment gear – but remember, should be paramount. Secure items in your vehicle to prevent them from becoming projectiles during unexpected stops or turns. Britax offers solutions like the View-N-Go Backseat Organizer to help keep electronic devices in place while making them easy for your kids to access. This organizer also has pockets for road trip must-haves like hand sanitizer, snacks, and small toys.

Hot Car Safety

• Heat Awareness: Organizations like the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration highlight the danger of hot car incidents, which often occur when children are accidentally left unattended in vehicles or become trapped inside. These situations can escalate quickly as the temperature inside the vehicle rises. To help keep your family safe, always ensure that your children are accounted for when you exit the vehicle. Keep some kind of visual reminder in the front seat, like a stuffed animal or a note, to help yourself remember to check the back seat each time you park.

Keeping Cool On the Go

• Beat the Heat: Sunny forecasts are perfect for beach days, but they can make car journeys uncomfortably warm. Equip your vehicle with Britax's EZ-Cling Window Shades to help shield your little ones from glare, and be sure that everyone stays hydrated throughout the ride. It’s also a good idea to get your vehicle’s air conditioning system checked at the start of the summer, especially if it’s not cooling down your car as efficiently as it normally does. You may even be able to find a mechanic in your area who offers free AC checks.

Plan for Regular Breaks

• Make Pit Stops: As you finalize your travel plans, anticipate the need for frequent stops to stretch, use the restroom, and let your children burn off some energy. Regular breaks can significantly enhance everyone's mood and help prevent all-too-common backseat restlessness. Stretch breaks are also important to help you stay awake and alert as you drive. If you’re traveling with multiple licensed drivers, take turns in the driver’s seat so that everyone gets to enjoy a break at some point.

Summer road trips are a fantastic opportunity for family bonding and adventure. By incorporating these travel safety tips into your plans, you can help set the stage for a journey that's just as smooth as it is enjoyable. Britax is committed to accompanying your family every mile of the way, helping to ensure that your most precious cargo is always protected. Here's to a summer filled with safe travels, laughter, and lasting memories.