Getting the most out of your summer road trips
There are a lot of things the summer weather brings to us; vacations, BBQ’s, hanging out on the patio or the beach and road trips. There’s something about the hot sunny days that makes the music louder and the good times roll, but driving should never take a back seat to enjoying the summer weather. There can be a compromise between cranking the tunes and driving safely, so let’s take a look at a few things that can help you enjoy the summer road trips and keep you safe on the road.
Rolling down the windows to let the summer air flow through the vehicle always feels awesome. But that flow of air can cause distractions by blowing loose objects throughout the driving compartment. To avoid that, ensure loose objects are secured either in the glove box, console or trunk before driving away. Papers, hats or tissue boxes flying around can cause the driver to take their attention off the driving scene long enough to miss important things, such as pedestrians, cyclists or drivers ahead of them or crossing into their path. Securing these objects can help the driver to remain focused on the driving environment.
Cranking the music is a common activity while hitting the road in summer, so enjoy that but be aware of your surroundings. Checking your mirrors regularly can help you spot drivers behind either approaching you from the next lane quickly or if they’re tailgating you. Either way, that information you receive from your mirrors can help you make solid driving choices even though you may not hear these vehicles approaching. No need to be surprised by another driver’s actions while you’re enjoying yourself. Information we get from our eyes helps to make good driving choices, so keep them moving while your ears are enjoying the music.
If you’ve got your driver’s license or a vehicle available to you but some of your friends don’t, you know you’ll be the one driving them around. That’s great, but ensure you set up rules and ensure they follow them. Let the person riding “shotgun” be your navigator. Let them be the person programming the music and anything else you need them to do. One of the best rules is having them respect your actions as a driver. Distracting you while you’re negotiating a difficult driving situation may mean they could be injured or worse. Let them know when to be quiet and why. If they can’t follow your rules, perhaps they need to find their own way of getting around.
The roads are a lot busier in July and August as many people are taking those
family vacations. These busier roads means more crashes occur in summer months compared to winter months. Take your time and leave with plenty of time to reach your destination. Increase your following distance (especially since your vehicle may be a lot heavier since it’s loaded down), and stay well back from other vehicles which may have roof-top carriers and items on top of a trailer. Those items may not be as secured as the driver may realize and could come loose at any time. Staying further back can give you more time to avoid them.
Driving during the summer means making adjustments to your driving. The summer is everyone’s traditional time for vacations and day trips, so let’s do it safely and plan ahead. I know I will.