5 Low-Tech Ways to Keep Kids Entertained on Road Trips

While driving is a necessity of modern life, it can be stressful and, in some cases, even dangerous. However, you can give yourself peace of mind by subscribing to a roadside assistance service. Here are six reasons why you need roadside assistance. You Have a Flat Tire Even if you drive carefully and make sure that your tires are properly maintained, in some instances, a flat tire is unavoidable. While you might know how to change a tire, you might not want to attempt the task on your own if traffic is heavy or if it's late at night. In many cases, it's safer to have roadside assistance change the tire for you. You may even need to have your vehicle towed if a blowout causes severe damage. You've Run Out of Fuel Running out of fuel is actually a fairly common problem for drivers. Many drivers rely on the fuel light in their vehicles to tell them when they need to fill up. However, these lights aren't always 100% accurate. You may have even less fuel in your car than you think. If you do run out of fuel, your roadside assistance service will deliver enough fuel to your location to get you to the nearest gas station. You've Locked Yourself Out It's very easy to get distracted while you're exiting your vehicle, especially if you're driving with kids or pets. This distraction can lead you to leave your keys in the car and lock yourself out. Roadside assistance can come to your location and retrieve your keys for you. more You Have a Dead Battery It's a pretty sinking feeling to get in your car, turn the key, and not have the vehicle start like its supposed to. This can happen in any car for a variety of reasons. You may have left your lights on, or there could be a flaw in the battery. If you're in a busy parking lot when this happens, someone might be able to give you a jump start from their vehicle. However, if you're driving down a country road or it's late at night, you'll need to depend on roadside assistance. They can come to your location, give you a jump start, and diagnose the cause of the dead battery. They can even replace the battery if necessary. Your Vehicle is Stuck Depending on where you live, the roads may not be in good condition. Or, you may live on a dirt road that turns into mud when it rains. It's possible to get stuck on rough or muddy roads. Roadside assistance can tow your vehicle out when you get stuck. You've Had a Bad Accident In the unfortunate event of a bad accident, your vehicle may be rendered undrivable. Roadside assistance will transport your vehicle to a mechanic. As you can see, there are several situations where roadside assistance can come in handy. Consider subscribing to a roadside assistance program, so that you can drive with confidence and peace of mind. Image via MazdaUsa.

Winter weather in Missouri brings the potential for ice and snowstorms, and driving conditions can quickly deteriorate. Defensive driving is essential year-round but is especially so through the winter months. You can prepare for this winter in Missouri by learning all you can about staying safe during the worst driving conditions. Here are four tips for winter driving in Missouri. Avoid Non-Essential Trips If you find yourself in the middle of a winter weather advisory, only drive when necessary. Places you may deem as essential trips during hazardous road conditions can include the grocery store, the hospital, work, etc. Otherwise, it is best to stay off the road if at all possible and wait for road and weather conditions to improve before venturing out. Create a Winter Car Survival Kit Having what you need in an emergency isn't always possible, but when it comes to winter driving, you can assemble the items you may need into a survival kit. Things to include in this kit are a small broom, hats, socks, gloves or mittens, a fluorescent distress flag, a spare radio with batteries, water, flares and matches, a windshield scraper, a flashlight, jumper cables, snacks or emergency type food, a shovel, shingles or sand for emergency traction, and a first aid kit. Any or all of these items could save your life during a winter driving emergency. more Change How You Drive Winter road conditions in Missouri may require you to change how you drive. During inclement weather, you can benefit from taking specific steps to ensure your safety and the safety of others on the road. Allow yourself more driving time so you can drive slower, take the time to clear snow and ice from your vehicle for increased visibility, and drive with your headlights on regardless of the time of day. By taking these few precautions to heart, you will help maintain safer road conditions through the winter months. Monitor Weather and Road Conditions Stay apprised of the road and weather by watching your local news stations. Keeping track of these conditions will let you know when it is safest to travel in your area. If you must travel, the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) offers a traveler information map that can be accessed via an app from your mobile device, providing you with the most current road conditions. You can also call the MoDOT customer service center 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. The toll-free customer service number is 888-ASK-MODOT (888-275-6636). Winters in Missouri can create some of the most hazardous driving conditions. If you find that you must drive during such situations, be prepared, and take extra precautions. Being safe on the road during inclement weather takes more than just driving slower. You would need to have a plan that includes staying informed of weather and road conditions, giving yourself the necessary time to reach your destination and to get back home safely, and having a survival plan if you were to become stranded. Image via Pixabay.com.

The times, they are a-changing. When we were young, we couldn't wait to get our driver's licenses. For some of us, it was one of the more exciting parts of our teenage years. But the newest wave of would-be drivers is increasingly less excited to get their licenses. If you have a teen who isn't motivated to drive, convincing them to do so can be a task. Here are some ways you can get your teen on the path toward a driver's license. Ask Why They Haven't This is the first step in motivating your teen to learn how to drive. Find out why they haven't done it themselves. The majority of us may get grunts and shrugs as answers, but some may learn something. Perhaps they're nervous about driving. Maybe they don't see a reason to because their friends and family members give them rides. Once you know why they don't want to learn how to drive, you can decide how to motivate them to do so. Tell Them What They Could Gain Perhaps a little perspective is needed. Tell them about the world that opens up for them once they have their license. They can get a job to buy the things they want. Tell them they can have greater freedom to see their friends when they want. Maybe promise them a road trip, if you're brave enough. Make a goal for them to be excited about. more Tell Them What You Could Gain One of the best parts of your teen learning to drive is that it takes some burden off your shoulders. You no longer have to drive them everywhere. They can help out with errands like grocery shopping or taking their little brother to their baseball game. Let them know that them learning how to drive not only opens up opportunities for them, it helps out with the household. Not to mention, it saves you from having to take a trip every day to get them to where they need to go. It's a win-win situation. Don't Chauffeur Them If all else fails, tough love goes a long way. One of the best ways to get them motivated to get their license is to take away their personal taxi service — you. If it's not an important destination, such as school or work, don't take them. One of the reasons we were so excited to get our licenses when we were growing up is because it meant we could visit our friends and go where we wanted to. If they can do neither, getting their license suddenly become more attractive. No matter how you go about motivating your teenager to learn how to drive, remember that there is no one-size-fits-all solution. Listen to the reasons they have for not driving and address them. Motivating a teen to do anything can be one of the greatest challenges of parenting, so we wish you the best of luck. Image via Flickr by State Farm | CC BY 2.0.