Summer Road Trip Safety Tips
School is out and it’s time for summer vacation! If your summer plans involve a road trip, read up on the Safety Council of Palm Beach County’s top 5 tips for a successful summer road trip.
Make sure car seats are installed correctly
Car accidents are the leading cause of death and disability for children. Each year motor vehicle crashes cause 300,000 severe injuries in children and 1,400 deaths. While car seats are 71% effective at reducing injury and death, this is only in the case in which they have been installed correctly. Unfortunately only 1 in 10 car seats are installed correctly. Refer to your child safety seat manuel to ensure your seats are installed correctly, or check for more information from the Safety Council of Palm Beach.
Secure heavy items
In the event of sudden stops, heavy suitcases and strollers are not something you want flying around the car interior. Keep heavy items low in the cargo area, or strapped down if it is an option.
Get a tune up
A long road trip can take a toll on your car, and braking down far from home can be daunting. Skip the potential hassle and take your car in for simple repairs a few weeks before your trip. Some things to keep in mind when fixing up your ride;
- Oil change
- Tire pressure
- Spare tire
- Brakes
- Windshield wiper blades and fluid
Get plenty of sleep
Did you know that the more tired you are the worse your driving skills become? You are three times more likely to be in an accident as a drowsy driver than a driver well-rested. Each year more than 100,000 vehicle crashes occur due to drowsy driving and are reported to police, but it is expected that the real number is much higher. Make sure you are well rested the night before you set out and grab your coffee to go!
Buckle up
More than half of the nearly 24,000 people who died in motor vehicle crashes in 2016 were not wearing seatbelts. Wearing a seatbelt is an easy way to reduce serious injuries and death by about half. Plus, if your road trip is crossing state lines, it is illegal to ride in a car without a seatbelt. Click it or ticket!
For more summer safety tips, contact the Safety Council of Palm Beach County today by calling (561) 845-8233 or email [email protected].