Keeping Safe On The Roads This Summer

Get your car serviced

Regular maintenance is not a suggestion, it’s essential to keeping your vehicle roadworthy. If you’ve kept up with the manufacturer’s recommendations for tune-ups, oil changes, battery check, tire rotations, and the rest, then you’re probably good to go. But if you don’t know the service history of the vehicle, you may want to schedule a preventive maintenance checkup with a reliable mechanic before hitting the road.

Got tire pressure?

Tires inflated at the right pressure are less likely to cause problems. The NHTSA points out that the correct pressure isn’t the number listed on your tire; it’s what the owner’s’ manual calls for. Be sure to check tires when “cold,” meaning the car hasn’t been driven for at least three hours.

Avoid risky driving

Anything that takes your attention off the road, whether it’s distractions inside the vehicle or getting behind the wheel after drinking, greatly increases your chances of an accident. Having everyone properly buckled in, children in the correct car seat, will make the time on the road more enjoyable for everyone.

Keep cool

Bringing lots of water and cold drinks is a great idea. Leaving children or pets unattended in a parked car, even with the engine running, is almost always a bad idea. Vehicles heat up quickly. If the outside temperature is in the low 80s, the temperature inside the vehicle can reach deadly levels in minutes, even with a window rolled down. The body temperature of a child rises three to five times faster than that of an adult, making them particularly susceptible to heatstroke.

Know your blind zones

A surprising number of accidents occur when a driver is backing out of a driveway or parking spot, particularly if the surroundings are unfamiliar. Backup cameras are helpful but don’t tell you the whole picture; kids, pets, or obstacles may be out of view but still in your path. Check manually to prevent “backovers” and be aware of your vehicles’ blind spots; by taking a little extra care, you can make sure this summer’s road trip is memorable for the right reasons.