Stay Safe on the Road—6 Simple Ways to Protect Your Children

There’s a particular kind of focus that kicks in when you’re behind the wheel with your kids in the backseat. It’s part muscle memory, part hyper-alertness. You're scanning for distracted drivers, checking the rearview mirror for flying snack wrappers, and making sure nobody unbuckles their seatbelt just because they're "itchy."

As a mom of two, I know that even the most routine drive can feel like a mission. The truth is, car safety for kids isn’t just about buying the right car seat and calling it a day. It’s about systems, habits, and being just a few steps ahead of the chaos.

I’ve spent a lot of time researching child passenger safety—and a lot of time living it. What I’ve learned is that keeping kids safe on the road doesn’t have to be complicated. But it does need to be intentional.

1. Car Seat Safety Isn’t One-and-Done—It’s an Ongoing Check-In

Let’s start here because it’s the foundation—and surprisingly, four out of five car seats are still installed or used incorrectly. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 46% of car seats are misused in a way that could reduce their effectiveness in a crash.

What I’ve learned is that buying the car seat is the easy part. Installing it correctly and continuing to use it correctly as your child grows? That’s where it gets tricky.

So what can you do?

• Get it checked by a certified tech. Many fire stations and hospitals offer this service for free. You can also search the NHTSA website to find local car seat inspection events.
• Stay updated on weight and height limits. Every car seat has different specifications for rear-facing, forward-facing, and booster mode. Know yours.
• Watch out for bulky winter coats. They can compress during a crash, making the harness less effective. Use a car seat-approved blanket or put the coat on backward after buckling.
• Replace after a crash. Even a minor one, depending on the manufacturer’s guidelines.

Weekly Nugget: The safest car seat is not the most expensive one—it’s the one that’s correctly installed and used every single time.

2. Make Seatbelt Habits Non-Negotiable—For Everyone

It’s easy to let seatbelt reminders slide once kids graduate from car seats. They’re older, more independent, and usually in the back seat. But here’s something that’s often overlooked: in a crash, unbelted passengers in the back can become projectiles—and harm others in the car.

That means even your teenager needs to be buckled every single time, no matter how short the drive. And if you're carpooling? Yep, their friends too. I’ve had to become the “sorry-not-sorry” mom who makes everyone click in before we leave the driveway.

A few tips that help:

• Start young. Making buckling up a non-negotiable from toddlerhood sets the tone early.
• Lead by example. Kids are watching. If you’re not buckled, why should they be?
• Use reminders over shame. A simple “let’s all get clicked in before we go” is more effective than a lecture.

Weekly Nugget: In families, safety habits are contagious. Consistency now builds confidence later.

3. Secure Loose Items—Because Everything Becomes a Projectile

I didn’t always think about this, until I read a stat that stuck with me: an object flying around in a crash at just 30 mph can have the same impact as being dropped from a three-story building. Suddenly, that reusable water bottle rolling on the floor didn’t seem so innocent.

We tend to think of car safety in terms of what we strap in, but it’s just as important to think about what we don’t.

Here’s what helps:

• Use trunk space for heavy bags or groceries—not the backseat.
• Store essentials (snacks, wipes, toys) in secured bins or organizers.
• Avoid keeping anything hard or sharp in cupholders or loose on the floor.
• If your child brings toys or tablets, opt for soft items or secure holders.

It’s not about being paranoid—it’s about reducing the risks you don’t even think of until it’s too late.

4. Plan for Emergencies Before They Happen

Emergencies don’t announce themselves—and that’s why the most prepared parents don’t wait until something goes wrong to figure out what to do.

So let’s talk emergency readiness:

• Keep an emergency kit in your car. This should include a first-aid kit, a flashlight, bottled water, granola bars, and a thermal blanket. Add extra diapers or medication if your child has medical needs.
• Know where your spare key is—and keep it accessible. I’ve seen more than one mom accidentally lock a child in the car while juggling groceries, a purse, and a moment of distraction.
• Add ICE (In Case of Emergency) contacts to your phone. And teach older kids how to unlock the phone and call for help if needed.
• Keep a list of allergies and medications. If you're ever in an accident and unable to speak, that info can be crucial.

Weekly Nugget: Being prepared doesn’t make you anxious—it makes you resilient. Confidence grows when you plan for the “what ifs.”

5. Avoid Distracted Driving—Even the Sneaky Kinds

We all know texting while driving is dangerous. But distraction sneaks in quieter ways, especially when you're a parent. Trying to break up a sibling squabble while merging onto the freeway? That’s distracted driving. Passing back snacks, glancing down to find a dropped toy, or changing the playlist for the fourth time? Yep. Still distraction.

I’m not saying you need to be a robot behind the wheel, but here’s what works for managing the chaos:

• Set expectations before the drive. “We’re not opening snacks until we get there,” or “This is a quiet ride.”
• Use rearview mirrors strategically. A baby mirror or backseat camera can help without forcing you to turn around.
• Pull over if something really needs your attention. Honestly, sometimes a 2-minute stop is safer (and saner) than trying to multitask.

No judgment here—we’ve all had our less-than-stellar moments. But being honest about our habits is how we get better.

6. Build In Time for Safer Transitions

This one surprised me the most—and it has nothing to do with what happens on the road.

I noticed that some of our sketchiest moments happened during transitions. Rushing to get to daycare. Forgetting to double-check buckles. Letting a toddler run ahead in a parking lot while unbuckling a younger sibling.

Safety doesn’t just matter at 60 mph. It matters in the loading zone, the grocery store parking lot, and the drop-off lane.

Here’s what helped me:

• Leave 5 extra minutes. Every time. That’s usually all it takes to move slower and be more present.
• Practice “pause and look.” Before opening the car door, before crossing the street, before loading up in reverse.
• Teach kids their role. “Hand on the door while we unbuckle your brother,” or “Wait by the tire while I grab the stroller.”

Safety Is a Practice, Not a Perfect Score

Here’s the truth no one tells you: you don’t need to be the perfect mom to be a safe one.

What you do need is awareness, some smart routines, and the willingness to check yourself now and then. And not just for your kids—for you too. Because when you feel calm and in control behind the wheel, you’re modeling that calm for everyone in the backseat.

These six habits won’t guarantee a stress-free drive every time (nothing can), but they will lower your risks—and increase your confidence.

You’re doing a lot already. Parenting from behind the wheel is its own form of multitasking. But with the right systems and a few tweaks, safety can become second nature—and so much easier to maintain.

So next time you buckle them in and hear that chorus of “Are we there yet?”—know that just by reading this, and caring enough to improve, you’re already on the right road.

MJ Brioso, Writer, The Urban Explorer

MJ is our go-to guru for all things city life. With a love for shopping and a passion for cultural exploration, she's constantly diving into the heart of big cities, finding hidden gems that most tourists miss.