Tips for Avoiding Car Accidents on Your Summer Road Trip

 Posted on December 00,0000 in Motorcycle Accidents

As the summer begins, many families are going on road trips or driving to another state for a weekend getaway. Because of the increased number of vehicles on the road for vacation travel, most car accidents occur during the summer months. Therefore, if you are planning to go on a long-distance road trip, you may want to think about the kind of car you drive. Is your vehicle safe enough to drive for hours on the freeway? What can you do to avoid a car accident? Taking into account these questions is essential to your and your family’s safety.

Some of the tips and precautions you should take before and during your road trip include the following:

1. Schedule a car maintenance. Battery checks, tune-ups, and oil changes can prevent your vehicle from breaking down while driving. Cars are susceptible to hot weather and long hours on the road, so you should have your vehicle serviced before embarking on your road trip.
2. Check your tires. Punctured or inflated tires on the freeway can cause an unseemly accident. Therefore, it is imperative you check your car’s tires before setting out on your road trip.
3. Stay alert while driving. Long road trips can become tedious. If you are driving for several hours, make sure you stop to take breaks and refresh. Avoid becoming too exhausted by alternating driving every few hours with someone else. Drowsiness while driving can cause car accidents, so make sure you and the other driver are well-rested. If you are driving for 24 hours or more, stay overnight at a motel or hotel.
4. Avoid driving recklessly. Speeding, distracted driving, and driving under the influence are all driving behaviors that can lead to car crashes. Oftentimes, drivers speed during traffic when they are stressed or irritable. Therefore, it is imperative you ask another driver to take over the steering wheel if you become tired or drowsy.
5. Drive a vehicle that is equipped with a rear camera. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is requiring that by 2018, all new vehicles have backup cameras installed in them. In 2010, the NHTSA issued a report which states that about 15,000 people are injured and 210 people are killed in vehicle backup accidents every year. If you are planning to purchase a new vehicle this summer, make sure it is equipped with a rearview camera.
6. Check for vehicle recalls. With all the vehicle safety recalls in the news, it can be difficult to keep track of which cars require repairs. You can check if your vehicle has been recalled by entering its Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) on NHTSA’s website.

Driving for long hours during the summer months can dangerous if you do not have the proper safety measures in place. However, sometimes accidents are inevitable. If you were involved in a car accident as a result of another driver’s negligence or as a result of a vehicle malfunction, contact the professional Lake County personal injury lawyers at Salvi & Maher, LLP. Call us at 847-662-3303, or contact us via email.

Sources:

http://www.iihs.org/iihs/topics/t/general-statistics/fatalityfacts/overview-of-fatality-facts/2012#When-they-died

https://www.nhtsa.gov/summer-driving-tips-2017#summer-driving-tips-2017-safety-first

https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/cars/2014/03/31/nhtsa-rear-view-cameras/7114531/