The school run - driving tips

The summer holidays are nearly over. Order and normality will resume along with the dreaded school run which starts again for another year. This week's tips, provided by IAM RoadSmart's head of driving and riding standards, Richard Gladman, offer advice on how to survive the term time road rush.

• Make sure everyone is in the right seat. If you use child or booster seats, make sure they are fit for purpose and correctly secured. Check out Good Egg for some top tips: http://www.goodeggcarsafety.com/

• Pack for success. Dependent on the age of your little ones, pack some healthy treats to distract them and keep them engaged, even on a short journey

• Leave enough time. Setting off for school can be a frustrating and rushed experience. Be sure to allow yourself enough time to get ready in the morning, as a and a half-eaten breakfast and badly combed hair can put both you and your child in the wrong frame of mind for the start of the day

• It's not a race. In many areas with local schools the motto is '20's plenty.' Remember that this is limit, not a target. Always help out the school crossing patrol, and you'll probably receive a friendly wave and smile for your assistance

• Start them while they're young. Teach your children about road safety so they know how to behave around moving traffic. Setting a good example while in the driving seat will stay with them in preparation for when they learn to drive. Parking in a safe place and walking the last few metres will not just help with congestion; it will also allow you to teach them the right way to cross a road, looking right and left (then right again for us Green Cross code users). Teaching children to use the road sensibly will save lives

Richard said: "Traffic always picks up again after the school holidays so your journey will take longer and potentially be more stressful.  Make sure the car is fuelled up and fit and ready for stop-start traffic so you have one less thing to worry about. Be vigilant around schools as there's likely to be children getting out of cars or walking to school."