Summer can be the perfect weather to drive, but it can also be dangerous. It is important to keep yourself, your family and others on the road safe while driving, especially in the summer when the roads tend to be a little more congested. The United States Department of Transportation released their ‘summer driving safety tips’ for 2021 and there are a certain few we would like to highlight.
EMERGENCY ROADSIDE KIT
You should always have an emergency kit inside your vehicle. By keeping the essentials with you, not only do you save time and money, you ease some of the ‘road trip anxiety’. When putting together an emergency kit be sure to include the following:
- Cell phone and charger
- First aid kit
- Flashlight
- Flares and a white flag
- Jumper cables
- Tire pressure gauge
- Jack for changing a tire
- Work gloves and a change of clothes
- Basic repair tools and some duct tape
- Water and towels
- Nonperishable food, drinking water, and medicines
- Extra windshield washer fluid
- Maps
- Emergency blankets and coats
- Extra cellphone charger and battery pack
FOLLOW YOUR VEHICLES SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE ROUTINE
When taking your car on a trip, even to the store, you should be sure that you’ve been keeping up with the maintenance schedule. This can save you time and money by alerting you if there is an issue, before it spreads; as well as keeping your vehicle running smoothly.
IMPORTANT CHECKS BEFORE YOUR TRIP
Before beginning your trip, you should be sure your vehicle is in good condition and ready for an extended drive. Be sure to check the following before starting your drive to save yourself the headache of unnecessary repair stops:
- Battery
- Lights
- Cooling system and coolant
- Air conditioning
- Wiper blades and fluids
- Tire tread and life
- Belts and hoses (use a trusted mechanic)
Preparing for a summer trip should be fun, and it can be! Just be sure to do your maintenance first, to keep everyone safe.
