Vacation is the ultimate time to relax, forget about the stressors at home and enjoy your family and friends. If you plan to drive while out of town or if your vacation includes a road trip, the last thing that you want to happen is to find yourself in an accident away from home.
A motor vehicle accident could destroy your vacation. The United States Department of Transportation has some tips on how to avoid an accident over the summer.
Have a planned route
Distractions can happen anywhere on the road. One thing that people often overlook happens to be the GPS. If you do not know your route, you may become distracted by the directions or changes you need to make.
Make sure that you plan your route. Give yourself time to study the map and to have a solid understanding of where you are and where you have to go. Having a passenger with access to information about your route can also help you remain alert and undistracted.
Learn to park properly
When you are in a new city or area, it may be difficult to know where to park. Unfortunately, for many drivers, parking can become a source of anxiety. Make sure that you look behind you whenever you drive backward. Sometimes, kids, animals and other objects may be out of view of the backup camera. The larger your vehicle, the more blind spots you have.
Before you embark on your road trip, make sure that your car has all of the necessary supplies, such as first aid kits, tools and your car’s owners’ manual.