It’s that time of year—time to load up the minivan and take your kids and their friends to school. Obviously, this year is much different than others because of the COVID-19 pandemic, and one result has been the disruption of everyday routines for millions of Americans. And that disruption has carried over to the beginning of the academic year.
Even though many schools have already opened and others are soon to follow, there are a lot of questions as to how each school will operate. Some students will be attending classes in person full-time, some will be navigating online learning, and others will be doing a mixture of the two. And despite excruciating planning and strategizing, school systems across the country will be winging it to a degree since no one really knows how long the pandemic will last.
But one thing is for sure: Kids who are attending school need to be able to get there. And for many families, carpooling is the preferred mode of transportation. Fortunately, there are safe ways to carpool with your kids and their friends, even during the pandemic. From taking extra precautions to enforcing basic rules of the road, here are three tips for keeping everyone in your vehicle safe when carpooling this school year:
- Follow Pandemic-Specific Guidelines
The CDC recommends “avoiding pooled rides where multiple passengers are not in the same household.” But they have also recommended specific steps that you can take if walking, biking, or riding the bus is not feasible for your family and neighbors and carpooling is the only option.
First of all, any child or parent who is sick or has had known contact with someone who has coronavirus should stay home. Also, every person riding in the vehicle should wear a face mask or face covering, and each person should have their own bottle of hand sanitizer. Furthermore, to improve your vehicle’s ventilation, lower the windows, and make sure the vehicle’s ventilation system is on non-recirculation.
Another thing to consider is whether the little passengers outside of your household are in your children’s pandemic bubble. Schools are organizing students into classroom cohorts or pods in an attempt to prevent the spread of coronavirus, and it’s best to limit who rides in your vehicle to those who are already in your children’s groups.
Moreover, whether or not you should add kids who are not family to your carpool will also depend on how many passengers you have. For example, if you have a minivan or large SUV, you could have one child ride in the second row and one in the third row. However, the more passengers you have, the harder it becomes to practice social distancing. So, consider how many kids you have riding with you before adding any others.
- Practice General Vehicle Safety for Kids
Anytime you’re driving with children in the car, it’s essential that each child uses the proper seat. If your child is using a safety seat, make sure it’s in good condition and that it is installed and fastened correctly. And don’t rush to move your child up to the next car seat; it’s essential that they use the appropriate seat for their height and weight. If you are driving around kids who are in booster seats or using only a seat belt, make sure everyone has their seat belts fastened before you move the vehicle and that they keep them on until the trip is over.
Also, never let any two children share a seatbelt. And remember that any child under 13-years-old should always sit in the backseat, which helps protect them from potential injuries caused by passenger airbags.
- Stay Focused on the Road
Finally, the parent must always practice safe driving, especially when children are in the vehicle. No matter what, remain attentive, alert, and focused on the road and the vehicles around you. Make sure any kids who ride with you have a clear understanding of the safety rules and that they stay calm in the backseat so as to prevent distractions.
And for your part, never text on your phone while driving. Not only will doing so put you and everyone with you at risk, but it will also teach dangerous habits to the children under your care.
If you need to drive your kids and their friends to school this year, it’s essential to be mindful of the steps you should take. Remember to abide by the guidelines established by the CDC as closely as you can, enforce basic rules that help keep children safe on the road, and at all costs, remain focused while driving. At Mount Airy Toyota, we are care about the well-being of our customers, which is why we are committed to following all proper precautions necessary to keep a safe and healthy atmosphere. Following tips like these can help ensure a safe carpool experience, which means that everyone wins!
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