Interstate Safety Tips
It’s almost the summer season, which means you’re probably thinking of going on an out-of-town trip with friends. Your plan might include driving from coast to cost. It’s every American’s dream, after all. But it’s also something that should involve extra safety. Anything can happen on Interstate Highways.
Sure enough, around 1.25 million global traffic deaths were recorded in 2013 by the World Health Organization. On the part of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, over 34,436 traffic accidents happened in 2017, with estimated fatalities reaching 37,461. These numbers are no joke, but they’re not meant to spoil your summer fun.
This is why you need to apply safety tips that will keep you out of harm’s way. If you’re taking a trip to the West Coast next month, it’s best you start off with the basics.
- Keep your vehicle in good condition
It’s a no-brainer that you need to pay attention to the condition of your car. The littlest issues can lead to the most serious mishaps. That little crack on the windshield or a broken blinker could be fatal. Add poor servicing and engine maintenance and you have a recipe for a literal disaster. That said, you should be able to keep constant tabs on your vehicle’s overall health. Regular maintenance is crucial to reducing risks while you’re on the road, so before you can even begin planning a road trip, have your vehicle checked and primed, get auto glass replacement or windshield replacement with the help of professional windshield repair services if necessary, and have your tires inspected to ensure that your car is ready for the long journey.
- Be wary of speed limits
Speed limits vary from state to state, so it’s important that you know about them before you can start driving along interstate highways. Sure, we all want to flirt with the speed demons within us and ignore the numbers you see along the way, but when it comes to securing your life and the lives of your passengers, it pays to adjust your speed.
- Practice defensive driving
Driving on the interstate is totally different from driving on city streets. And although there’s not as much traffic when you’re cruising the highway, you still have to polish up on defensive driving techniques that will help you avoid collisions. For one, you should always keep a safe distance, especially if there’s a trailer truck ahead of you. When changing lanes, on the other hand, make sure you’re clear to do so.
- Minimize distractions
Distracted driving has been one of the foremost reasons for many interstate accidents and why personal injury lawyers specializing in such cases have become more sought after than ever. Indeed, your eyes are only meant for the road, so you might as well minimize distractions inside your car. The video player you just installed might provide ample entertainment throughout the journey, but it could also cause you to miss certain obstacles along the way.
Spending time on a beach in California or New England might seem tempting, but you have to realize that you’ll have to cover hundreds of miles of road to get there. To make sure you arrive safely, you may as well treat the tips above with utmost seriousness.
