Back to school means a lot of thing to a lot of different people, but for drivers it means more time on a suddenly congested road. Regardless if you’re a young driver with their first car at high school, a student packing up the car to head back to college, or a parent navigating the chaos that is school and city traffic: it’s time to drive safe. The Property Casualty Insurers of America have released some great tips for the season of back-to-school driving, and we thought we’d share the best with you.
1. Make Sure Everyone Buckles Up
You should always buckle up, and hopefully you do. But if your car is filling with unruly children and anti-authority teens, it can become a challenge to make sure that everyone is safe. Here’s what to do:
- Before you start the car, visually check to make sure everyone has their seatbelts on, especially children.
- Make sure children are in the proper car or booster seats, and make sure those seats are secured.
- If you’re on a long trip with children, make sure to take breaks often to avoid children releasing their seatbelts with a case of the fidgets.
2. Watch Out for Construction
While this might be the last vacation or the start of the school year, it’s also still the summer construction season. Make sure to check your routes online (or via phone apps) to avoid construction and provide extra time, and also spend extra time navigating any construction zones. Not only can these zones contain obstacles that can surprise unaware drivers, but also any driving violations that occurs in these zones are usually at least double the cost!
3. Avoid Distracted Driving
When you hear “distracted driving”, you’re probably thinking of cell phones. And while electronic devices are a huge source of distracted driving, such as texting while driving, they aren’t the only source. When your car is filled with excited children or student peers, the noise, conversations, and activities that can go on in your car can be just as distracting as responding to the most recent phone message. Make sure to focus on driving, and keep conversations from getting out of hand.
4. Update Your Proof of Insurance and Roadside Assistance
A lot can happen in the summer, including the expiration of your insurance cards. Between road trips and congested driving, your chances of getting into an accident or getting stopped increases. Make sure your documentation, including your insurance cards, is up to date. It’s also worth getting roadside assistance and your insurer within easy reach: the only thing worse than having your car towed is complications on getting it back.
These are a few good tips for back-to-school driving: want more? We’ll be happy to talk about your unique issues and getting you the right knowledge and insurance to safeguard your family’s driving, including the right auto insurance plan for your situation and drivers. TJ Woods has been voted Worcester’s Best Insurance Agency since 2009, contact us to find out why!
