Safe and secure transport of bicycles, four-legged friends and luggage

The holiday season, which is rapidly approaching, is usually a period of closer or longer trips. However, before you go on a family vacation by car, you should take care of the technical condition of the vehicle and remember a few basic rules for the correct transportation of passengers, animals or luggage. We advise you on what to do to ensure maximum comfort and safety while traveling.

The cars we drive today on vacation are incomparably more spacious than those we drove before. The problem is that nowadays, even for a short vacation, we can take too much luggage with us, which means that packing the whole family in a car can sometimes become a daunting task.

Moreover, the provisions of the Road Code also ensure the correct (and above all safe) transportation of people, animals and objects. What do you need to remember when preparing for a vacation?

Children? Only in car seats

Of course, it is worth starting with the most important question, i.e. travel with children. Here the law leaves no illusions:

– In a car equipped with seat belts, a child under 12 years old, no taller than 150 cm, is transported in a child seat or other device appropriate for the weight and height of the child, says Grzegorz Krul, Car Center Martom Mart Service Manager.

Contrary to popular belief, this seat can also be placed in the front seat. However, it should be remembered that in the case of vehicles equipped with an airbag for the passenger, which cannot be disabled, it is forbidden to transport a child facing backwards.

On the other hand, no one needs to be reminded of the absolute need for all travelers to wear seat belts. Failure to do this simple act can result in a fine or, worse, incomparably greater bodily injury in the event of a possible collision.

Transportation of small and large animals

However, adequate protection extends not only to people, but also to the transported animals.

- If we also decide to take our four-legged friend on vacation, do not forget to create conditions for him to ensure his safety. Sudden emergency braking or an accident can turn a free-roaming dog into a deadly threat not only to itself but also to other passengers, a Martom Group spokesman warns.

Also, we can never rule out a situation in which our baby suddenly decides to move forward, distracting the driver. So what can be done to avoid such a scenario?

If we have a station wagon, animals must be transported in the luggage compartment, separated from the passenger compartment by a special net or grille. For medium sized dogs, we can also buy a mat hung between the seats, creating a sort of playpen or harness attached to harnesses or other interior fittings.

– And the smallest members of the family, that is, cats, birds or domestic rodents, can travel in special transporters. The only thing we need to pay attention to is their location - there is no way they can remain loose due to the risk of shifting when braking, says Grzegorz Krul.

Roof racks, bikes on the hook

The same, for example, with suitcases that do not fit in the trunk. If we decide to transport them in the cabin, then it is worth using special stabilizing nets.

It is also necessary to clean all objects located under the driver's seat. Bottles, cans or deodorants, for example, can easily roll underfoot, and in the worst case, even block the ability to press the brake pedal!

- In some situations, instead of forcing everything in the car, additional roof racks are a much better solution. If we choose proven, certified products and install them correctly, our trip will not only be safe, but also comfortable,” adds the Martom expert.

Remember, however, that a large trunk will greatly increase the overall height of our vehicle. This can create problems, for example, when driving into a low garage, and, last but not least, it will also affect the stability of the car. Therefore, you need to be extra careful on the road.

You will have to take into account the same problems when transporting bicycles on the roof of a car. It is not surprising that an increasingly popular solution is to attach them with a special handle to a hook under the tailgate. The only thing we need to do in this case is to properly secure the transported bike.