Whether you have longstanding travel plans, a last minute road trip in mind, or just sticking around town this summer, take a few precautions and follow these simple travel safety tips. Preparation, prevention and planning are much easier than dealing with the consequences of a breakdown or worse yet, an auto accident.
Preparation – Before you hit the road
Regular maintenance such as tune-ups, oil changes, battery checks, and tire rotations, can go a long way toward preventing breakdowns. If your vehicle has not been serviced recently, schedule a preventive maintenance check-up with your mechanic before you leave.
Prevention – Adult and child passenger safety
Seatbelts and car seats save lives! Make sure car seats and booster seats for your children are properly installed. Have children 13 and younger seated in the back seat and require all passengers in your vehicle to buckle up!
Check the NHTSA’s child passenger safety recommendations to find out how to select the right car seat for your child.
Planning – Just in case
Even the best maintained vehicle can break down. Prepare an emergency roadside kit to carry with you including:
- Cell phone
- First aid kit
- Flashlight
- Jumper cables
- Ensure spare tire and jack are in working order
- Work gloves and a change of clothes
- Basic repair tools and duct tape
- Nonperishable food, drinking water, and medication
Focus on the road
Don’t talk or text on your cell phone while driving. This includes using a hands free device. If you need to make a call, pull off in a safe place or let a passenger make the call. Avoid eating while driving. Stop and take a break for food and beverages. Never drive while drowsy, it can be fatal. Take a nap or share the driving with a passenger who isn’t fatigued.
We hope your summer travel plans are fun, safe and successful. But, in the unfortunate event that you are injured, call 316-888-8888 in Wichita, Kansas or contact DeVaughn James Injury Lawyers for a free no obligation case evaluation.