Safety Precautions For Road Trips

This summer season, you may be planning on taking a road trip across the state or to a different state entirely. Whether that trip is with your family or friends, there are many things for you to consider. For instance, you may be expecting a fun time with a car packed with friends driving on the highways for hours; however, sometimes this is not the way that things work and an unsightly and sudden accident may occur.

Statistics have shown that the most accidents happen between June and November. You may be surprised to know that, during the snowiest months, only 6% of fatalities happen to occur even with the snowy conditions on the roadways. No, the summer months involving roads packed full of traffic bring the most accidents. Fatalities on the road peak at 10% in the month of August and are not much less in the months before then. In the summer months, there are more inexperienced drivers on the road, such as those coming from high school just starting out driving. More reasons include the fact that construction takes over the streets, vacationers crowd the roads, there are more cyclists out, and road rage increases due to the heat.

Staying Safe on the Roadways 

There are some things that you should know about road safety and common knowledge before you plan a summer road trip with your family. There may be some points that are less obvious to you and your family but will help you in the long run. Here are some of those tips:

• Make sure that your vehicle is always well maintained. A mechanic of your choosing will be able to check the important things such as brakes and tires. If your car is not in the best condition to make a road trip, they will tell you, or alert you to what parts you may need to take care of any problems.
• Always choose your destination so that you know where you are headed before you get there. There are many tourist attractions in each state open to the public.
• Drive with caution when sharing the roadways with all of the other summer drivers. Not only will you avoid getting a ticket, but you will also be making sure that everybody in your vehicle is safe, including you. Make sure that you and your passengers are always wearing seatbelts.
• Make frequent stops so that you are able to do things like stretch your legs, use the restroom, and have a meal.
• If you have children, there are also some tips to keep in mind. One of these is to always provide safety seats appropriately based on the child’s age and size. A technician may be able to evaluate and verify that the seat is installed properly before you make your trip.
• Bring snacks so that you can be sure that everybody, children and adult included, have enough to eat and drink on the trip.
• If your children are under six, you should always make sure that they are immunized up to date. Illnesses or diseases could be transmitted through direct contact and you want to keep your children and the children of others safe.

Car accidents can be prevented in many cases when people follow the precautions of the roadways and keep tips in mind. If you are planning on a summer road trip, you should remember road safety at all times – even in the midst of adventure. If you need us for assistance, give us a call today at Maggiano, DiGirolamo & Lizzi.