For many families in Florida, and beyond, Memorial Day weekend marks the start of
summer, which means road trips, beach days, theme park visits, backyard gatherings,
and more time spent on busy roads. It’s the first major travel weekend of the season,
which can mean heavier traffic, unfamiliar drivers, changing weather, and full cars
packed with kids, luggage, snacks, and weekend gear.
For parents, small stressors in the car can add up quickly. From a child asking for help
to the pressure of getting everyone somewhere on time, even small distractions can pull
attention away from the road. Safe holiday driving starts before the car moves, and as
Memorial Day weekend approaches, simple habits and planning can help families stay
calm, focused, and prepared.
Plan before you drive
The first few minutes of a drive can set the tone for the entire trip. Before heading to a
cookout, beach day, or weekend getaway, it’s worth taking a few extra minutes to get
the car and passengers ready.
Setting navigation before shifting into gear and making sure that essentials and
entertainment are within reach are great habits to get into. Making sure every
passenger is properly buckled before anything else happens is another important step.
For younger children, this includes checking that car seats and booster seats are
installed correctly, straps are positioned properly, and kids are riding in the right seat for
their age, height, and weight. Families can review car seat safety guidance before a
busy travel weekend to make sure children are riding as safely as possible.
These steps may seem small, but they reduce the need to reach, turn around, problem-
solve, or multitask while driving.
Minimize distractions
When we think about distracted driving, we often think about phone use first. Phones
are a major concern, but distraction can come from anything that takes your attention
away from driving.
A child asking for help, a dropped item, a playlist that needs changing, or a stressful
thought can all make it more difficult to stay fully focused. Mental distraction matters,
too. You can be looking forward and still not be fully present behind the wheel.
For families, the goal should be to make the cabin as calm and predictable as possible.
Put your phone out of reach, not just face down or in the cup holder. Use technology
like Apple CarPlay or Android Auto when needed, but remember that hands-free does not mean distraction-free. If something requires your attention, pull over safely before
handling it.
Parents also set the tone for future drivers. If teens see adults checking messages at
stoplights or trying to manage too many things while driving, those behaviors can start
to feel normal. A parent who puts the phone away, waits to respond, and pulls over
when needed sends a much stronger safety message.
Use safety technology as support
Modern vehicle safety features can be especially helpful during busy holiday driving.
Features like Automatic Emergency Braking, Blind Spot Monitoring, Lane Departure
Warning, Rear Cross Traffic Alert, and Driver Attention Alert can provide added
awareness and help reduce risk in certain situations. Drivers increasingly expect
advanced safety features to be standard on vehicles, not an added luxury, and some
car brands are meeting this expectation. When looking for a vehicle that includes safety
features as standard and not a premium upgrade, third-party sites can help. For
example, Mazda is the Safest New-Car Brand according to Consumer Reports
(Consumer Reports does not endorse products or services), meaning their vehicles
excel in Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) crash tests, come standard with
key crash-prevention features, handle predictably, and don’t have distracting controls.
These systems are valuable, but they are not a substitute for an attentive driver. The
safest approach combines strong driving habits with technology that acts as an added
layer of support. The most important safety system in the vehicle is the driver.
Keep kids safe in and around traffic
In addition to more cars on the road, Memorial Day weekend also means more families
walking through parking lots, crossing streets near events, biking around
neighborhoods, or navigating busy pickup and drop-off areas.
Drivers should slow down in neighborhoods, near parks, around pools, and in crowded
parking lots where small children may be harder to see. Parents can also remind kids to
cross only at designated crosswalks, look both ways before crossing, stay several feet
back from the curb while waiting, and avoid running between parked cars.
Safe driving is not one big decision. It is a series of small habits repeated every time a
family gets in the car. This Memorial Day weekend, and all summer long, planning
ahead, staying focused, and making safety part of the routine can help protect your
family and everyone sharing the road.
