If you’re one of those individuals who love to get out on the road, are you keeping safety in mind each time?
Whether your trips will be weekend getaways or crisscrossing the nation for a week or more, be safe.
That means making sure your vehicle of choice is as safe as can be. Also practice safe driving habits of your own behind the wheel.
From vehicle maintenance to safety technology, make sure you are covered.
Is Your Vehicle Safe Enough?
So that your vehicle and you are as safe as can be before you venture out, remember these tips:
1. Vehicle preparedness
Your vehicle must be ready before you even log your first mile, so take the time to do it right.
This means looking at the following:
- Check the oil and all other fluids
- Make sure you have properly inflated tires and have plenty of tread. Also check your spare tire
- Are the brakes tested and can stop your vehicle on a dime?
- Do all lights work so that other vehicles know where you are and when you are turning?
It is also a good idea to wash your vehicle before you start your trip.
Although it is going to get dirty during the trip, starting out with a clean vehicle is to your benefit for safety.
If there are questions about vehicle maintenance have the vehicle manual with you. Many questions and/or concerns will be answered in those books.
2. Vehicle technology
Depending on how old your vehicle is, it may or may not have some of the more recent safety technology add-ons.
One of these will be a backup camera system.
The advantages of a backup camera system should be obvious, but some are not familiar with them.
A backup camera system in your vehicle gives you a view of what is happening behind you.
This means you can see if a person or object is behind you when preparing to go in reverse. That object is usually another vehicle or a motorcycle or bike.
By being able to see what is going on behind you, you lessen the chances of an accident.
Even by going at slow speeds, backing up into another vehicle or a pedestrian can be quite bad.
Another tech feature that will help you out is collision-avoidance systems.
Those systems work to let you know if your vehicle is drifting into the next lane.
Given how an accident can occur, that system could end up proving a lifesaver for you and others.
3. Vehicle driving
As safe as your car, truck, RV etc. may be, the person behind the wheel has a huge responsibility each time.
This of course refers to you, so make sure you never take roadway safety for granted. This is especially true when you are in vacation mode. Your reactions may be a little more laid back, so don’t lose your attention at the wheel.
Also look to obey all the rules of the road, especially your speed limits.
It can be all too enticing to get involved in a road rage incident when another driver upsets you. That said avoid such reactions at all costs.
It is important to note that not only are such reactions dangerous, but you want to be on a relaxed road trip.
Finally, never try and push yourself when you are feeling drowsy behind the wheel.
If you start to get sleepy, find a safe place to pull off and get some rest.
Hitting the road for any kind of extended trip can and should be fun.
When you focus on vehicle maintenance, safety and your driving skills, your trip can be quite a drive.