Chicco and AAA have teamed up for the third year to spotlight the importance of road trip safety.
As millions of travelers take to the road this summer,with a free resource to help parents of young children better prepare for summer road trips: a Family Road Trip Safety Hub. The one-stop resource, which makes it easy to access advice from the brand’s trusted experts, covers topics including state car seat laws, a simple test parents can perform to check for proper car seat installation, as well as car maintenance and defensive driving tips.
New research from Chicco USA found that more than half (52%) of parents feel stress and anxiety in the days leading up to a family road trip as they pack and handle travel logistics. Further, two in 10 (23%) parents admit they only occasionally or never check that their child’s car seat is properly installed before hitting the road, highlighting the importance of taking extra care to ensure child passenger safety on extended road trips.
Key tips from the Family Road Trip Safety Hub, credited to Chicco Child Passenger Safety Technician (CPST) Josh Dilts and Kellan Howell, AAA Spokesperson, include:
- Navigating Car Seat Laws by State: States vary in the exact requirements for a child’s weight, height and/or age to determine the correct car seat type. Reference the interactive map to be aware of the laws of any states you may be driving through.
- Road Trip Prep Tips for a Safer Journey: “When will we get there” is asked by kids once every 20-30 minutes (40%), and in some cases more frequently (31%), according to parents surveyed by Chicco. AAA’s Trip Canvas tool allows users to search local guides and recommended activities from experienced travel editors to make sure the whole family has a more relaxing journey to their destination.
- Safe Driving Tips for New Parents: Drive defensively and keep your eyes up and brain on. Always search the entire traffic scene so you see everything going around you in all directions and keep a huge donut of space around your vehicle – especially to the front.
- Tips for Alternative Methods of Travel: It’s always recommended to bring your own car seat when you can. If you must rent, like with rental cars and international travel, always check the expiration date and make sure you have access to a user’s manual.
For more tips and resources, parents can visit the Family Road Trip Safety Hub here.