Finally, summer is here! With it comes days of fun-in-the-sun, packed full of trips to water parks, camping, and other attractions throughout Washington State. Before hitting the road though, make sure that you read these summer driving safety tips. With them, a little rain won't ruin your vacation days.
Create a Season-Appropriate Car Emergency Kit
In the winter, hand-warmers, blankets, and extra hats may be necessities for emergency care kits. In the summer though, you can lose the extra weight—doing so will help save on gas, too—and make sure your car emergency kit has everything you need for hot weather driving.
A summer driving safety care kit should include the following.
- A simple tool kit
- Spare tire
- Nonperishable food items
- Water
- Car jack
- First-aid kit
- Sunscreen
Read our car accidents blog to learn more about other must-have car emergency kit elements.
Keep Extra Water on Hand
You shouldn’t just have water in your emergency kit, you should also make sure that every passenger in your car has a bottle of water for every trip that you take. If your car breaks down and you have to wait for help, things can get toasty fast.
You can help to prevent heat exhaustion and heat stroke by staying well hydrated. Keeping some trail mix – or other healthy snacking food – on hand is also advised.
Plan Long Trips in Advance
There’s no better time than the summer to plan a road trip. But before you go, make sure you take the time to plan your route in advance. Consider where you’ll stop for food and gas, if you’ll need to find lodging, any rest stops along the way, and whether or not there’s any construction happening on your planned route.
The better prepared you are for the trip, the less likely you are to encounter any unexpected situations, some of which could be dangerous.
Buckle Up
It goes without saying, but buckling up is a must every time that you get in a vehicle. If you’re traveling with young children, ensure that their car seats fit both them and the car correctly and that the seat and child are both properly secured. Child safety seats and seatbelts can save lives in the event of an accident.
What to Do if You’re in an Accident
If you are in a car accident this summer, try to remain calm, and report the accident to the police and your insurance company as soon as possible. For legal help in filing a claim and recovering damages, call Max Meyers Law PLLC at 425-399-7000.
