Summertime is often an exciting time for families. Vacations, trips to the beach, visits to amusement parks — they are all on the itinerary. While driving in the summer is not as dangerous as driving during the winter, you still need to be prepared.
Changing weather conditions, potholes, and overheating engines can cause damage to your vehicle and even result in serious car accidents. Stay safe this summer and keep your vehicle in tip-top shape with these tips.
Heat
High temperatures can cause engines to overheat, leading to breakdowns. Heat can increase the pressure in tires, potentially causing blowouts, especially if the tires are already worn or underinflated.
You can prevent these issues by checking your tire pressure consistently. Keep a spare tire in your car. Replace tires if there is uneven or excessive wear. Also, drive around potholes when possible.
Sun Glare
Intense sunlight can create glare, reducing visibility and making it difficult to see the road, pedestrians, and other vehicles. Also, continuous exposure to bright sunlight can cause eye strain and fatigue, affecting concentration and reaction times. To combat sun glare, use sunglasses and sun visors. Take breaks when driving long distances or plan driving around times where the glare is not as bad.
Increased Traffic
Summer is a popular time for vacations, leading to more cars on the road, which can cause congestion and increase the likelihood of accidents. Also, with school out, there are often more inexperienced teen drivers on the road.
With these issues in mind, you need to be alert while driving. Do not drink and drive, and avoid distractions. Avoid driving late at night on the weekends and during holidays. Do not take any risks. Take an Uber or call a friend if you are too tired or intoxicated to drive.
Road Construction
Summer is a peak time for road construction, leading to detours, lane closures, and unexpected slowdowns. Construction zones often have loose gravel and debris that can damage vehicles and cause accidents. In fact, accidents occur on a daily basis, which means drivers need to be aware of the dangers involved. Property damage is common and construction workers are often injured and even killed.
You can prevent accidents by slowing down to 10-15 miles per hour below the speed limit in work zones. Merge early before entering the work zone. Plan for delays and try to avoid known construction areas by finding an alternate route.
Rain and Storms
Florida is known for frequent and sometimes heavy rain in the summer. Summer thunderstorms can lead to flash flooding and reduced visibility, making driving hazardous. Water on the road can cause tires to lose contact with the surface, leading to loss of control. Rain can impact the vehicle’s performance and driver behavior. Cars can’t stop or speed up as easily on wet roads, which can lead to loss of control. Plus, drivers tend to be more nervous in the rain, which is a major contributor to accidents.
Be especially aware in the first few minutes after it starts raining, as this is when the pavement is slipperiest. Turn on your windshield wipers at the first sign of rain. Be sure to replace them in the spring so they better clear water.
Animals on the Road
Warmer weather can bring animals out of hibernation, increasing the risk of collisions, especially in rural areas. There are more animals crossing the streets and causing accidents. Hitting or swerving around animals causes thousands of accidents every year.
Be more aware at dawn and dusk, when deer and most other animals are active. Do not swerve into oncoming traffic. Use your headlights and high beams when driving at night.
Motorcycles
Good weather brings out more motorcyclists, who are harder to see and more vulnerable to accidents. Motorcycles are also moving at faster speeds, so it can be hard to estimate a motorcycle’s speed. They can easily disappear into your blind spot, making it challenging to ride around them.
Stay safe by following motorcycles at a greater distance. Motorcycles can stop faster than cars.
Be careful when making turns, especially left turns. Motorcycles are quick, so be sure to check your blind spots multiple times.
Bicyclists and Pedestrians
There is also increased activity of bicycles and pedestrians in the summer. More people are taking advantage of the warmer weather and are outside walking, jogging, and biking, which increases the need for drivers to be vigilant and share the road.
Stay safe by checking multiple times for pedestrians and bike riders before turning. Be especially alert in urban areas. Always stop for pedestrians in crosswalks. Never pass a vehicle stopped at a crosswalk. They could be waiting for pedestrians to pass. Distracted walking has become common, with more and more people glued to their phones. Watch for them and be patient.
Contact Us Today
Driving can still be dangerous during the summer, so do not let your guard down. Be alert and prepared to tackle any issue that might happen while driving on Florida’s roadways.
Car accidents can lead to serious injuries. If your injuries were caused by someone else’s negligence, talk to the team at Brill & Rinaldi, The Law Firm. We can assess your case and determine your rights to compensation. To schedule a free consultation, fill out the online form or call (954) 876-4344. We have offices in Weston, Coral Gables, and Daytona Beach.