Icy roads and being caught with your car broken down in a winter storm is something we all fear. But a summer road trip can also have some elements of danger. According to the IIHS (Insurance Institute of Highway Safety), August has the highest number of fatal car accidents than any other month. July and September come in as a close second. There are several reasons why summer driving hazards beat winter driving hazards.
More vacationing, means more drivers on the road, which causes more traffic and congestion. Unfamiliar roads for vacationers and sightseeing (or rubber necking as we call it in Texas) may cause drivers to slow down or drive erratically when distracted. Look out for some road rage from the locals. Because we all know that tourists are a pain in the rear and should always be made fun of. School is out, so there are going to be many more teen (inexperienced) drivers on the road. And, as much as we parents hate to admit it, data shows that teens are more likely to be involved in accidents than other age groups. The heat and friction has also do a number on your tires. Tires are likely to blow out during the hot summer months. So have them checked out and always keep a filled spare. Most parts of the country that experience extreme winter weather only have the summer months as their opportunity to do road construction. Be mindful of construction zones and construction workers (you know…the guys in the orange vests).
So, plan ahead. Make sure you have your entire route mapped out. GPS is awesome, as we all know. But knowing ahead of time what your exact route is will save time, grief and a possible accident (whether that accident may be a fender bender or a kick in the face). Bring along plenty of water and an extra cell phone charger. You don’t want to be stranded in the heat with a dead cell phone. Oh…and don’t forget to pay your cell phone bill. Again, you don’t want to be stranded in the heat with a dead cell phone.
Until next week…
Daun Thompson
Writer / Comedienne / Artist
Summer Driving Hazards – Comedy Defensive Driving