A little off topic- Teen seatbelt use? Travel safety issues.

Dragonflymama

New member
We are going on a long car trip for the 4th and we will spend many hours in the car over 7 days. My 15yo stepson will sit properly in a seatbelt around town and for shorter (less than 2 hour) freeway trips. But then he starts to lean and slump out of position and I worry about keeping him restrained in a crash. Any tips on how to encourage teens to sit correctly on longer trips? I am driving most of the time so I cant monitor him constantly. Any tricks?

Also, we are buying a DVD player with dual screens that velcro-install to the back of the front headrests for this trip. Any ideas about increasing safety and decreasing the projectile risk?

We are renting a minivan for the trip (my Escape is just too cramped for a long road trip). In my Escape, we can secure the cooler, gear and luggage in the cargo area with ratcheting cargo straps attached to the tie down anchors. Do most minivans have cargo tie down anchors in the rear luggage area? Don't know what model minivan we will be getting yet (I should call rental co and see if they can tell me). What do you do to secure heavy cargo?

TIA!
 
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joolsplus3

Admin - CPS Technician
You have tie downs in your escape? lucky! (my hybrid doesn't have them..).. Minivans have a deep well in the back that's under/beind the third row, so it's not as big of a deal to keep everything in place, but yeah, also we have hooks in my van, so I think most do.

Might see if plastic ties can be used to extra-secure the video screens somehow?
 

Dragonflymama

New member
You have tie downs in your escape? lucky! (my hybrid doesn't have them..).. Minivans have a deep well in the back that's under/beind the third row, so it's not as big of a deal to keep everything in place, but yeah, also we have hooks in my van, so I think most do.

Might see if plastic ties can be used to extra-secure the video screens somehow?

Yep, my Escape has the cargo tie downs. I've never looked in the cargo area of a hybrid.

Plastic ties for the video screens is a great idea! Thanks!
 

Dragonflymama

New member
Tazer... not a bad idea. LOL!!!!! :p

For those of you w/o a teen in the house yet, just wait! Your "fun" is coming...

Seriously, he is a great kid, interesting to talk with and a lot of fun to have around. Yet, he is still a teenager and all that comes with that package.
 

Victorious4

Senior Community Member
I'd have him read the vehicle manual seatbelt use section & show him the 86Y with sincere thread to make him use that if he doesn't keep the seatbelt properly positioned.
 

Lys

Senior Community Member
Tazer... not a bad idea. LOL!!!!! :p

For those of you w/o a teen in the house yet, just wait! Your "fun" is coming...

Seriously, he is a great kid, interesting to talk with and a lot of fun to have around. Yet, he is still a teenager and all that comes with that package.

I feel your pain!
I have 2 teenagers! 17 and 15!
 

Yoshi

New member
Tazer... not a bad idea. LOL!!!!! :p

For those of you w/o a teen in the house yet, just wait! Your "fun" is coming...

Seriously, he is a great kid, interesting to talk with and a lot of fun to have around. Yet, he is still a teenager and all that comes with that package.

hehehe...mine just graduated high school...and to you dragonflymama all I have to say is WAIT UNTIL 16 yrs old- then the real fun starts:whistle:

seriously, he was like a different kid overnight (I thought we were in the clear and BAMMO!) Now he is mostly pleasant and cooperative again (of course, he has no car, so I am his taxi service- he better be nice!) and he is a great kid, very smart, no major problems now-but 16 &17 were rough for us. I always have to remind him not to slouch in the seatbelt- he is 5'11" and the lap portion ends up on his stomach. I tell him horror stories of what could happen. He usually rolls his eyes and sits upright again.
 

Dragonflymama

New member
I found an effective way to encourage our 15 yo to sit correctly in his seat belt: I calmly but sternly explained that he will not be getting his driver's learning permit if he can not first demonstrate that he understands and practices auto safety as a passenger. Simple, if he can't ride safely, we are not going to let him operate the vehicle. Lots of eye-rolling, but my threat is working (for now anyway).
 

VoodooChile

New member
Can you show him a picture of a Tiffany Parkway and tell him you're ordering him one if he won't sit right? No need to tell him he's too big for it...:whistle:
 

Judi

CPST/Firefighter
I feel your pain too.

Mackenzie
 

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