Planning a road trip? Whether you’re hitting the mountains, the beach, or just exploring new towns, staying safe on the road is key to making it memorable for the right reasons. Warmer weather brings people out and about which often means more traffic, and more distracted drivers. These times of the year are often also riddled with unexpected weather changes—but with the right preparation, you can avoid common hazards.
One of the cautionary preparation steps you can take before your trip is to be sure your vehicle is up for the challenge. It is important to take your vehicle in for inspection and any necessary tune-up. Common things to check for travel safety include making sure the brakes are working appropriately, checking your tires and addressing any need for replacement or rotation, making sure your fluid level, air filters, and battery are all up meeting required standards. It never hurts to have fresh windshield wipers to best prepare you for rain, dusty roads, and the inevitable bugs of summer.
It is important to become familiar with your route enough so that you are not entirely reliant on your GPS system either in your car or on your phone. This prevents stress and distraction if you happen to venture through an area that you have little to no service. A calm driver is always safest. This also helps with your reliance on looking at places within your vehicle that take your attention off the road. If you have a passenger, let them assume the role of co-captain and assist with the navigation.
This leads to my next point, which is arguably not only the most obvious but the most important. Do not text and drive – not only is this extremely dangerous for you, your passengers, and others on the road, but it is a traffic offense in most states. There are a variety of ways to engage in hands free communication while driving, many of which far more economical than ever before.
Aside from differing hands-free laws state to state, speed limits on roadways vary drastically from place to place. It is important to always be conscious of speed limits, particularly in rural areas or winding roads. These limits can change abruptly in result in traffic infractions, or even worse, injury to you or others.
Studies have shown during holiday or heavy traffic periods that road incidences spike. There are a lot of factors that go into this including heightened stress, increased traffic, fatigue, or alcohol consumption. It is very important not to engage in any of this conduct. If you encounter road rage, it is imperative not to respond or retaliate. You can avoid situations like this by being aware of your driving. If you tend to be a slower driver, avoid left lanes outside of passing.
Lastly, when driving in a new place you may be unfamiliar with their pedestrian crosswalks. It is very common for pedestrians to suffer grave injury and even fatalities due to cars not obeying crosswalks and other marked signage for crossing. Always be aware of cross paths, bicycle lanes, and other unfamiliar signage you may not be used to. While many of these safety tips seem obvious, they can be easily forgotten or overlooked. Better safe than sorry is always a reliable motto. Be vigilant, drive safe, and enjoy your travel this summer and upcoming holiday season. For any legal advice related to travel incidents, do not hesitate to contact our team at Lasky Justus Law. Happy Driving!