Each year, millions of people are injured in traffic accidents across the U.S. By following some safe driving tips, you can do your part to make the roads a safer place. Traffic accidents often increase during the summer because more people are on the road. Teenagers get out of school and go on road trips, families take time off work to go on vacations, and the roads are generally busier than at any other time of year.
Here Are Some Tips to Improve Your Safety While Driving This Summer:
1. Conduct a Pre-Trip Vehicle Inspection
Before you begin a long road trip, you should check to ensure all components of your car are in good working condition. This involves having your car serviced by a professional mechanic, who will inspect the tires, fluids, brakes, lights, air conditioning, belts and hoses, and other important parts of your vehicle. If the tire tread is worn, or your vehicle’s fluids are low, it is important to replace or refill the necessary components to ensure your car is functioning properly.
2. Prepare Adequately
In addition to inspecting and maintaining your car, you should always have certain items in your vehicle in case of an emergency. A first-aid kit, as well as an emergency supplies kit, will come in handy in a variety of situations. By preparing an emergency kit, you can be prepared for tire blowouts, car breakdowns, accidents, and other emergencies.
In your kit, you should include:
- Flashlights
- Flares
- Water bottles
- Jumper cables
- Reflective vests
3. Take Action to Keep Your Kids Safe
All children under the age of 13 should sit in the back seat. Furthermore, you should properly install car seats and booster seats, and ensure they are the appropriate size for your son or daughter. On every trip, you should have all your passengers buckle up.
Once you reach your destination and exit the car, it is important to lock the doors to prevent your child from sneaking back in and getting trapped. During the hot summer months, a car can become extremely hot in minutes, putting your child at risk for heatstroke and death. You should never leave a child unattended in a car, even with the windows rolled down. Instead, take your son or daughter with you to the grocery store or wherever you are going, and monitor them closely to avoid heat injuries.
As an additional driving safety note, you should walk around your car before you back out of a driveway or parking lot to ensure no children are playing behind you. Relying on your mirrors or even a back-up camera may not be enough to spot a child in the path of your vehicle. Thus, you should always check for children before backing up. This can help prevent serious injuries or death.
4. Drive Defensively
Once you are on the road, there are several driving habits that can help keep you and your passengers safe. Defensive driving involves more than just obeying traffic laws. It is a comprehensive approach to driving that promotes the safety of everyone on the road.
Defensive driving techniques include:
- Keeping a safe distance between your car and the cars around you
- Maintaining a safe and legal speed
- Scanning the road for obstacles or hazardous conditions
- Driving slower in stormy or foggy weather
- Using turn signals properly
- Keeping your mind focused on the road and your hands on the wheel
If You Have Been Involved in an Accident, Alex & Associates Can Help.
Our firm is committed to providing effective, honest, and thorough representation to injured clients. The tips listed above can help you stay safe on the road this summer. However, they cannot protect you from someone else’s reckless driving. If you were injured, or a loved one was killed by a negligent driver, we will fight tenaciously on your behalf to uphold justice. Drivers owe a duty of care to others on the road. If they breach this duty of care, and you suffer harm as a result, you may be entitled to receive compensation for medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other damages.
Contact our Phoenix car accident attorneys today to discuss your case with a compassionate legal advocate.