Last Updated on June 30, 2021 by Kimberly Stroh
Safety Tips For Summer Road Trips
The following post is sponsored by Toco Warranty, but all opinions are my own. Savvy Mama Lifestyle is a Brand Ambassador representing Toco Warranty.
There’s nothing I love more than a summertime family road trip. It’s our annual all American summer experience – like baseball and hot dogs. If you’re planning a road trip with your family, you’ll want to check out these safety tips to ensure you’re prepared. Plus, you can print these FREE road trip bingo cards for the kiddos. It’s all about “making every mile count” and creating unforgettable family memories.
Easy Safety Tips For Summer Road Trips
I like to think of our car as a mobile family room. I’ve got to do my part to keep it a safe environment for the kids and take care of my vehicle as it ages – just like I do with our house.
Start Prepared Before You Hit The Road
I remember how much money we worked hard to save and spent plenty of time researching our vehicle purchase. To protect our purchase and cut costs on our vehicle maintenance, we rely on Toco Warranty.
Through an affordable monthly payment plan, Toco Warranty gives us financially smart vehicle repair coverage. They offer vehicle service contracts nationwide, as well as mechanical breakdown insurance for California residents. Toco is all about “making every mile count” too and that gives us added safety and security – we’re toting precious cargo wherever the road takes us!
They make customer service a priority because they understand that vehicle repairs can be frustrating or even unexpected. For cars three years and older, they have plans that cover parts for a car’s engine, transmission, drive axle, electrical, cooling system, AC, fuel system, and more.
We feel safer on the road with their 24/7 roadside assistance and a dedicated concierge. Plus, all of my customer information is at the tip of my fingers with their MyToco Customer Portal.
Go For A Tune-Up
For smooth sailing, make sure your car is in good working order. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) recommends that you have your tires, battery, belts, fluids, and air conditioner checked by a qualified mechanic. If you’re driving in a hot climate or towing a boat or trailer, you may need a motor oil with a higher viscosity.
Check All Car Seats and Booster Seats
Not sure if your car seats or booster seats are installed 100 percent correctly? A car seat that isn’t installed properly can put children at serious risk for injury or death. Many local fire departments offer inspections free of cost.
Make An Emergency Kit
You never know where the road may lead and it’s best to be prepared for anything. You can keep an emergency kit in your vehicle, just in case you run into any issues or severe weather. Here are some items to include:
- Water
- Warm blankets
- A flashlight
- Jumper cables
- Flares
- Tools to change a tire
- A fully charged cell phone
- A first-aid kit
Before leaving on your trip, make sure you have your roadside assistance number with you. I keep Toco Warranty roadside assistance number in my cell phone.
Store Weight Properly
Store heavy items low in the seat wells so they won’t become projectiles during a sudden stop. For the same reason, suitcases, strollers, and anything else stowed in an open cargo area should be battened down.
Ignore phone calls
Even if you’re hands-free, talking on the phone can be dangerous – especially while driving in an unfamiliar area. Set up an automated text message response before your road trip that will let the caller know you’ll return their call when you’re not driving.
Plan For Breaks
Our family likes to enjoy the journey, but it also helps to keep us safe. Getting proper sleep and rest, in-between the segments of your road trip is important for your safety. Besides, everyone is happier and more alert when they’re well rested. Just stopping at a rest area for a picnic, gives us an energy boost.
Printable Road Trip Bingo Cards For Kids
Now that you’re ready for a safe road trip, it’s all about keeping the kids entertained in the backseat, right? My oldest, at five, is just at the age where he asks “are we there yet?” in the car. These road trip bingo cards are a great way for kids to spot different license plates as you drive (bonus – they’re learning to spell too). Just download, save and print!
How To Play
In total, there are five different versions of these Bingo cards. They’re designed for road trips. Since you’ll be in the car, I suggest using a crayon or stickers to play. You don’t want to use traditional bingo markers, like a coin, because they’ll most likely fall all over the place.
If you have one kid playing, you can print off all the cards and let them play multiple rounds of bingo. If you have several kids playing, you can hand out all of the different cards and see who gets “BINGO” first! Traditionally, you have to get diagonal, across, up or down a line to win.
Click Here To Print Bingo Card 1 | Click Here To Print Bingo Card 2 | Click Here To Print Bingo Card 3
Click Here To Print Bingo Card 4 | Click Here To Print Bingo Card 5
Check out some maintenance tips before you hit the road!
No matter where your summer travels take you, I hope you enjoy the journey and make every mile count with Toco Warranty by your side! Let me know in the comments below, what is your dream road trip destination?
Savvy Mama Lifestyle Readers Can Use My Toco Warranty Promo Code “SAVVY” To Save On Your Plan*
*Toco Warranty offers pay-as-you-go monthly coverage plans with no contract, cancel anytime. This promo code saves you 50% of your first payment.
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