Ask Patty Blog Carnival Week Around the Auto World: July 3rd

Ask Patty is back again with our road trip and holiday safety blog carnival! We have found and compiled some of the best travel safety trips out there on the web for this one-stop reading experience for you here. Sit back and let the vacation begin!

The world’s largest and most important conference on automotive safety will take place in Stuttgart in spring 2009. During this “Technical Conference on the Enhanced Safety of Vehicles” (ESV), engineers, representatives from official bodies and politicians will discuss measures and technologies for the further improvement of vehicle safety. Mercedes-Benz is organizing the event, which will be accompanied by an extensive background program, in cooperation with Germany’s Federal Highway Research Institute.

ABC News brings us some Summer Safety Tips to help you learn to keep your kids safe this summer and during the holidays! From drinking and driving safety tips for teens, to travel tips, this article touches it all: “During the summer months a lot of families are going on long car rides and vacations. When they head out, parents should always make sure to buckle up the kids properly. But during the ride, the kids get a little antsy and want to take their seat belts off. Don't let them.”

The American Red Cross also shares some tips about auto safety and driving safety for this 4th of July holiday: “Don't move a muscle until you buckle. Wherever the destination, every person in every vehicle should have their seat belt securely fastened before driving. Ensure children are buckled up and their car seats are installed appropriately based on their age and size. Children 12 and under should always sit in the backseat.”

And for those of you in wetter climates (though there aren’t many given the drought situation we are in), there Edmunds has some safety tips for you! Should it rain on your 4th of July vacation, check out these tips to help you be a better driver in wet road conditions. Especially after a dry spell: “During a dry period, engine oil and grease build up on the road over time. When mixed with water from a new rainfall, the road becomes extremely slick.”

When you are traveling with children, safety is the most important aspect. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has put together some great tips on child safety and child seats. It tells you how to choose the right seat and how to install it… even differences between forward- and rear-facing seats.

Not to be a downer here, but in order to impress upon you the seriousness of child and child seat safety, we wanted to share this with you. KidsandCars.org has a list of children who have lost their lives to motor vehicle accidents and backup tragedies (pictured is Seven Faulkner). It is so important to make sure you watch your little ones this holiday. With all the hustle and bustle, don’t forget to keep safety at the top of your mind.

Now for some road trip safety from Road Trip America! Staying awake at the wheel is important and many drivers are guilty of driving while tired. The program they offer lists some useful tips for improving driver alertness while on the road. The presentation of the material (also provided in the workbook) on the CD primarily provides a source of irritation (in this editor's opinion) that might be useful in staying awake as well.

Imagine this scenario: Your teenage daughter casually announces that she and her best friends are taking off on a weeklong road trip for Spring Break. You listen in horror as she waxes euphoric about "the freedom of the open road." She's dreaming of a road trip movie: an exciting odyssey with a cast of new friends, a thrillingly handsome leading man and no parents in sight. You, on the other hand, are thinking Freddy Krueger. You can't shake the idea that your lovely daughter will never return home. Fear not, Road Trip America comes in handy with tips!

And one last thing, don’t drink and drive people! The holiday season is supposed to be a time for family, friends, and festive celebrations, but it is unfortunately also a time when there is a tragic jump in the number of alcohol-related highway fatalities each year. Remembering to designate a sober driver before the party begins is just one of several, simple steps to help avoid a tragic crash or an arrest for impaired driving during the heavy summer road trip and vacation season. Read more tips on the NHTSA’s web site.