Safety tips when traveling as a family
You have already decided your destination this holiday and we have nothing left to start packing your bags in the car. There's nothing like enjoying summer with your family, but do not you forget something? We must have a good preparation and planning before starting the trip to enjoy peacefully.
On vacations, drivers who travel in a private vehicle with the family, they travel more than 400 kilometers. Given this situation and because these months, coinciding with the summer holidays, there are large numbers of journeys, Genesis and FESVIAL, propose a series of tips to increase the safety of private car trips with the family, also providing some data extracted from the aforementioned study.
Stop every 200 kilometers or every two hours
To avoid fatigue and fatigue in driving, you have to make stops every 200 km / h or every two hours. Especially now in summer that the heat increases the fatigue, despite having air conditioning.
The vast majority of drivers stop during these intervals. 45 percent for between 200 and 300 km. A 30 percent for between 100 and 200 km, and with low percentages are drivers who do between 300 and 400 km, or every less than 100 km. Very few drivers do not make any stop.
Check vehicle components
The vehicle must be in perfect condition to circulate safely. Therefore, it is necessary to perform the corresponding mechanical checks according to the manufacturer's instructions of the vehicle or the mechanical workshop. It is also recommended before going on vacation to review components such as tire pressure, oil level, windshield wiper reservoir, brake fluid level, and water level. It is also recommended during the travel stops to check these components, as well as the vehicle's load.
Half of the drivers do not check any mechanical component during the stops and 15% do not do it before taking a trip.
Travel planning
The trip will be more comfortable and relaxed if you plan the route in advance, establishing stopping points. In this way the driver will feel more familiar with the journey, especially if it is the first time you do it.
Almost half of the drivers plan their trips when they are for reasons of leisure and holidays, are familiar or unknown routes. 37 percent plan them only if they are new or unknown routes and 11 percent if they are long routes. Only 4 percent never plan trips.
Schedule of the trip
Is advisable to make the trips in the morning, an hour after it has dawned, and until an hour before sunset, which is when there is more light, trying to avoid the central hours of the sun (from 12 to 16 hours, especially in summer), and driving at night.
Drivers usually leave their place of origin mostly in the morning. On return trips, there is more diversity of schedules, 41 percent returns in the morning (between 07:00 and 12:00). 30 percent do it in the afternoon / evening (between 5:00 p.m. and 12:59 p.m.).
Entertainment for children
If the children are entertained, they will be very more calm and avoid tense situations. That is why it is advisable to bring some entertainment, which makes the trip more fun.
The 43 percent of drivers have some kind of entertainment for children on any type of trip, whether short or long. 29% carry entertainments for children only on long trips. Only 10% say they do not have any entertainment.
Eat while driving
During travel it is not recommended that drivers eat while driving, as it may cause distractions and loss of attention capacity and reaction. If you are hungry, better stop in a safe place and eat quietly. 12% of drivers recognize that they eat while driving.
Placement of luggage inside the vehicle
The luggage should always be placed in the trunk or on the roof rack or chest of the car (making sure it is secure). If you carry carry-on luggage inside the vehicle, it must be in the compartments of the vehicle or glove box.
A high percentage of drivers carry hand luggage in the interior of the vehicle, and the places where it is usually placed is in the seats that are free, under the legs or under the seats, assuming a danger in case of an accident. accident.
Vehicles traveling together
When traveling together with other vehicles, it is recommended agree a meeting point, and not follow. This avoids having to be aware of the other vehicle.
57 percent of drivers who travel with another car are followed along the way, a practice that is dangerous because it requires putting a lot of attention and adapt the speed to the vehicle that is followed or preceded.
I use retention systems
It is very important to always travel with the seatbelt in all the seats of the vehicle. If children travel they should go in their corresponding child restraint systems until they measure 135 cm.
Although the use of the belt is practically 100 percent in all seats of the vehicle, in the case of children passengers the percentage of use of child restraint systems is lower, since 8 percent of children do not travel with the corresponding car seat , exposing himself to a serious danger.
