For many, summertime means vacation travel. Although pandemic precautions may affect your travel plans again for 2021, it is good to review summer road trip safety tips. Prevention and planning take a little time up front, but will spare you from dealing with the consequences of a breakdown – or worse, a highway crash – later.
Before You Go
Check for Recalls – Owners do not always know their vehicle has been recalled and needs to be repaired. NHTSA’s VIN lookup tool lets you enter a Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) to quickly learn if a specific vehicle requires repair as part of a safety recall in the last 15 years.
Get Your Car Serviced – Regular maintenance such as tune-ups, oil changes, battery checks, and tire rotations go a long way toward preventing breakdowns.
Know Your Car – Read your vehicle’s manual to familiarize yourself with the features on your vehicle.
Plan Your Travel and Route – Before heading out, make sure to check the weather, road conditions, and traffic. Don’t rush through your trip, and allow plenty of time to get to your destination safely.
Stock Your Vehicle
Even well maintained vehicles can break down. Put together an emergency roadside kit to carry on your road trip. Suggested emergency roadside kit contents include:
- Cell Phone and Charger
- First Aid Kit
- Nonperishable Food and Drinking Water
- Medicines
- Flashlight
- Flares
- White Flag
- Jumper Cables
- Tire Pressure Gauge
- Jack
- Ground Mat
- Work Gloves
- Change Of Clothes
- Basic Repair Tools
- Duct Tape
- Water
- Paper Towels
- Windshield Washer Fluid
- Maps
- Emergency Blankets, Towels and Coats
Protect Yourself and Your Loved Ones
Buckle Up. Every Trip. Every Time: Ensure that everyone in your vehicle is buckled-up in age- and size-appropriate car seats, booster seats, or seat belts.
Stay Alert: Fill your gas tank whenever possible. On longer trips, plan enough time to stop to stretch, get something to eat, return calls or text messages, and change drivers or rest if you feel drowsy.
You Know The Rules: Avoid risky driving behaviors. Do not text or drive distracted; obey posted speed limits; and always drive sober.
Prevention and planning really do take time up front. They will also spare you from the worst after a breakdown or highway crash. Before your trip, implement these summer road trip safety tips.
The Merdes Law Firm has been helping injured Alaskans for more than 30 years. It’s who we are. And while we hope you never need us … We’re here if you do. ~ Ward Merdes
- Sources: NHTSA
- Image Source: Cathedral City Auto Center
