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RV Summer Travel: How to Make It Fun and Keep It Safe

Grace Wells
August 27, 2020
2 min read

I think everyone can agree that family road trips are much more fun when traveling in an RV. What most parents want and need to know is if the kids should be roaming around or tucked into their car seats while traveling from place to place.

We have the answers.

RV Driving Isn’t the Safest

RVs have three different classes. Class A, Class B, and Class C. Class A is the largest type and generally weighs around 15,000 to 30,000 pounds. RV Consumer Reports (RVCG) claims that this type of RV, although the largest, has more structural issues than others. Collisions at only 20 mph can cause serious damage, and there is zero testing required for Class-A-RV rear crashes.

Class B is between 6,000 and 8,000 pounds. These are required to meet safety standards for front-seat occupants – but not ones in the back. They may have only lap belts, as opposed to safer options for kids.

Class C RVs are between 10,000 and 12,000 pounds and have a front cab with safety features. They also meet safety standards for the front seats, but not the rear.

Safe or Not for Kids?

As you can see, the safety requirements for any RV are not exactly good for small children. This is especially true for children with seats that are rear-facing, or if the child should be mounted in the front with a rear-facing seat. Of course, this allows for much less roaming around.

Only 26 states have RV seat belt requirements, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t make sure your child sits safely in a seat in the back with a seat belt.

RVs provide a false sense of security based on their size alone. Don’t be fooled. When traveling with kids in any type of RV, ensure that you have seat belts for every occupant you have on board, and that all occupants are restrained during travel.

For children still in car seats, seat belts in rear-facing seats and side-facing seats should never be used. Keep your family adventure safe when buying an RV. Ensure that it meets the requirements to restrain them safely according to all laws.

Check the RV’s safety ratings and ask questions before buying or renting to ensure that you can travel the states in the safest way possible.

Grace Wells

Grace Wells grew up in the kind of town where no one locked their doors and parents felt safe letting their kids wander. Things have changed a lot since then. As a mother today, Grace has to worry about so much more than skinned knees and hurt feelings.

Grace believes the best way to keep kids safe is to stay informed. She hopes that her work at Kids Safety 101 makes a difference in children’s lives so that they can grow up as carefree as she did.

Please enable notifications so that you never miss an important update from Kids Safety 101.

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Grace Wells

Grace Wells grew up in the kind of town where no one locked their doors and parents felt safe letting their kids wander. Things have changed a lot since then. As a mother today, Grace has to worry about so much more than skinned knees and hurt feelings.

Grace believes the best way to keep kids safe is to stay informed. She hopes that her work at Kids Safety 101 makes a difference in children’s lives so that they can grow up as carefree as she did.

Please enable notifications so that you never miss an important update from Kids Safety 101.

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