Laws You Should Know Before Taking A Road Trip With Family or Friends
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By PAGE Editor
For some people, it's hard to leave the comforts of home. For others, it's hard to stay at home. But for parents with kids, there are a lot of considerations that go into deciding on where they will take their family vacation.
With so many options out there, taking your family on a road trip is an easy way to see more of the country while also making memories that will last forever. However, before you get in the car and hit the road, make sure you know these laws!
1. Make sure you have enough car seats for all your children
When traveling with your family, make sure you have enough car seats for all your children. In most states, it is illegal to leave a child under the age of 8 in the front seat. You will need a rear-facing seat for infants and toddlers, while forward-facing seats are good for toddlers and preschoolers. For school-aged children between ages 8 and 12, boosters seats are required, while for children older than that regular seatbelt laws apply, but penalties are usually harsher because parents are held liable if their kids aren't wearing their seatbelts. When buying a booster seat, make sure it's rated correctly for your child's weight and height, and that it has a tag saying it's been crash-tested.
Make sure to buckle up all children in car seats or booster seats. Do research if you're going to travel through other states, as their laws may be different from your own state's laws. For example, car seat laws in California state that it is illegal for a child under the age of 8 to ride in the back seat if there are two or more rows of seats, and children must also use an appropriate car seat until they are at least 6 years old or 4'9". It’s important to stick to rules and regulations, not only because of safety concerns but also in order to avoid any unnecessary fines.
2. Never leave your child alone in the car, even for a moment
Never leave your child alone in the car. At every stop, check to make sure that none of your kids have fallen asleep and overheat in the back seat. It is also important to remember not to leave your windows open with a running engine because it can cause carbon monoxide poisoning. In some states, it is illegal to leave a child under the age of 14 alone in a car. If you are breaking this law, not only are you risking the safety of your child, but also risking a hefty fine or even jail time for child endangerment.
This is important because, in situations where children are left in cars on hot days, the temperature in the car can rise sharply. Heatstroke can happen when outside temperatures stay above 90 degrees Fahrenheit for too long. Leaving your child in the car unattended could lead to death.
3. Don't allow your child to ride in the front seat
If you are breaking this law, and there is a car seat installed in the very front of the vehicle, it could result in a fine and points on your driving record. This is important because you want to make sure your child is as safe as possible when taking a trip. If he or she is riding in the front seat, you could be putting them in danger of a collision or airbag deployment. Children under the age of 13 are not allowed to ride in the front seat unless they are wearing a child safety restraint. This is important because children who ride in the front seat may be at increased risk of injury or death due to airbag deployment, ejection, collision, etc.
4. Know the speed limit
One thing to consider before you take your child on a car trip is the speed limit. Laws vary from state to state, but it is illegal in most states to drive faster than 55 miles or 90 kilometers per hour if there are children under 16 years old in the car. Depending on where you are cruising with your kids, make sure you are parking legally as well. In some areas, this should be at least 10 miles per hour under the local speed limit, and in many other places, it should be 5 miles per hour under.
5. Check local laws for more information
Check local laws for more information. Make sure to do this before taking a road trip with your kids! These are just some of the laws that you need to know, but there may be others depending on where you're going and what you're doing. So always check with your state's Department of Transportation or Department of Motor Vehicles before making your trip.
There are many safety precautions to take when traveling with kids. You want to make sure they are safe, so you should keep them out of the front seat, buckle up any child in a car seat or booster seat, and never leave your child alone in the car. These are just some of the laws that you should know before taking a road trip with your kids!
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