| Anyone who has children knows what a | | | | keep the children occupied. Just remember that |
| distraction they can be while driving. | | | | DVD screens are not allowed to be in view of the |
| Children who are bored, hungry, or fighting with | | | | driver. If a DVD player is out of reach, local |
| their siblings can turn a pleasant family outing into | | | | libraries have audio books that the whole family |
| a stressful situation. A 2006 AAA Foundation | | | | can enjoy together. |
| study found that 80% of crashes involved driver | | | | Children (up to 4' 9" tall) should always be properly |
| distraction within 3 seconds of the event. With | | | | secured in a child safety or booster seat with |
| this in mind, when driving anywhere with children, | | | | safety belts. Never allow the children to get out |
| pre-planning, even on short trips, is critical. | | | | of their seat belts when the car is in motion. |
| Ensure that children have toys, games, coloring | | | | Information on the proper use of car seats can |
| books, and books to keep them occupied. A good | | | | be found at the American Academy of Pediatrics |
| idea is to keep children's travel kits in the car at all | | | | website. |
| times. A mesh bag for each child can be filled with | | | | Traveling With Pets |
| age appropriate travel activities to keep the child | | | | Pets, no matter how well trained, can be very |
| occupied. | | | | unpredictable. Pets should never be allowed to |
| Some items that can fill the travel kit are:o | | | | wander around the car or sit in the driver's lap. |
| Coloring books (use colored pencils instead of | | | | Small pets that could jump or fall to the floor |
| crayons that can melt in a hot car)o Travel | | | | where they can interfere with the driver's |
| versions of popular games such as Battleship, | | | | operation of the foot pedals can be especially |
| Guess Who, etc. that the children can play with | | | | dangerous. |
| each other.o Travel sized versions of | | | | An emergency stop could send a pet plummeting |
| Etch-A-Sketch for each child.o Travel sized | | | | to the floor or into the dashboard where they |
| hand-held electronic games.o Small personal radios | | | | could be injured. Pets should be secured in a car |
| or MP3 players filled with age appropriate music | | | | pet carrier or with a pet harness (available at pet |
| and headphones for each child.o Age appropriate | | | | stores) that can be attached to the seat or seat |
| books.o Stuffed animals to act as traveling | | | | belt. |
| companions. | | | | Rawhide bones can occupy a dog for hours and |
| The back seat may become a bit messy but that | | | | remember that pets need rest stops too. Make |
| is a small price to pay compared to a bored child | | | | sure you have food and water available on a long |
| An excellent resource full of games, tips, and | | | | trip. |
| accessories for traveling with children is This | | | | Never leave children or pets unattended in a hot |
| website also has great information on how to deal | | | | car. Even when it is relatively cool outside, |
| with car sickness. | | | | temperatures inside a sealed up car can very |
| If you can afford it, portable DVD players with | | | | rapidly reach dangerous levels on a sunny day. |
| the children's favorite movies are a great way to | | | | |