Summer Road Trip Safety Tips

Summertime is when thousands of people take to the highways and byways to enjoy a summer family road trip. Unfortunately, thousands of those people will be severely injured in car crashes which were no fault of their own. At Springer & Lyle, we have some summer road safety tips for you from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHSTA) that will make your summer holiday road trip be the fun it should be.

Safety Tips

Before hitting the road, here are some summer road safety tips from the NHSTA.

• Inspect your tires. Be sure the tread is not worn down and that it is even for all tires. If the tread is worn more on one tire than another, the alignment may need to be adjusted. Check the air pressure and be sure your spare tire is ready to go.
• Check your lights. Are your headlights, brake lights, turn signals, interior lights, and emergency signals all working? If you are towing a trailer, be sure the towing lights are all working.
• Do you need to flush the fluid in the cooling system?
• Check all fluid levels in general. Check your oil level, the brake, transmission and power steering fluid levels. Also, be sure the windshield washer fluid levels are full.
• Be sure wiper blades are in good shape. You never know when you are going to be hit with a sudden summer rainstorm. Replace blades that are no longer doing their job.
• Inspect belts and hoses. Hot summer temperatures increase the rate that rubber hoses degrade. Check for bulges, blisters, cracks, or splits in hoses and belts. Replace those that are worn. Also, check all connections to be sure they are secure.
• Air conditioner should be in working order.

Pack an emergency roadside kit. No matter how carefully you prepare, the unexpected can always happen. The NHTSA recommends your emergency kit contain:

• Cell phone charger.
• Flares.
• First-Aid kit.
• Jumper cables.
• Tire-pressure gauge.
• Jack for tire changing.
• Work gloves.
• Non-perishable food.
• Water.
• Emergency blankets, towels, and coats.
• Basic repair tools, including duct tape. Duct tape can be used for temporary repair of hoses and tubes.

No matter how careful you are, there is always the potential for a wreck caused by a negligent driver. If this happens to you, remember that the personal injury attorneys at Springer & Lyle can help you obtain the reasonable compensation you are entitled to for your injuries, lost wages, medical expenses, pain and suffering, and other physical damage. Contact us at 940.387.0404 for a free consultation.