Don't be that person. You know - the person whose summer travel habits put themselves, their passengers and other motorists in danger. It's true - you may not be aware that these habits are dangerous. Our own Windy VanCuren & Martha Meade are sharing their summer "don'ts" to help you be a better & safer summer driver.
Don’t torture the passengers. Remember people must go to the rest room. Don’t be the driver who refuses to stop – kids and pets need a break even when parents can handle more hours on the road at a time. Don’t expect kids to be adults; they are not. Take along games or DVDs or sing songs to keep them from getting bored and cranky.
Don’t scare your passengers by driving when you are too tired; let someone else take the wheel or STOP and take a break. Enjoying the scenery is one thing, but don’t be distracted by your surrounding - in or out of the car. Put away your cell phone and other gadgets or ask someone else to man the controls for you. Don’t be a rude or aggressive driver. Most importantly: never, ever drive under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
Don’t leave your travel partners stranded because you didn’t take the time to do basic preventive car maintenance. Due to the recession people are sometimes keeping their cars longer and not spending money on preventive maintenance; however, simply changing your oil on time, checking your fluid levels, inspecting belts/hoses, properly inflating your tires and making sure that your battery has the needed life to take the trip will all improve your chances or getting to your vacation spot without a problem.
Don’t forget that teen drivers are inexperienced – only you know if your teen is ready for expanded driving privileges. Five of the deadliest days of the year for teens are in the month of JULY. Parents are encouraged to give teens driving privileges ONLY when they feel that the teen has demonstrated responsible and safe driving habits. Many teens may not have had the highway driving experience needed for a long road trip.
Creative commons image via rik.
