Road trips are a popular vacation idea in the summer, with families packing up to travel to amusement parks, see new cities, or visit out of state relatives. Road trips are also popular among young adults wanting to see America and have some fun before school starts again in the fall. No matter who is taking the road trip, though, there are safety tips to keep in mind in order to ensure the trip doesn’t end in the tragedy of a car accident.
1. Get Your Vehicle Checked
Regular maintenance is incredibly important in making sure that your car is functioning properly and won’t break down in the middle of nowhere or cause an accident because of some kind of defect. Defective vehicle parts can be dangerous, and are often the true culprit in auto accidents.
2. If On a Motorcycle, Wear a Helmet
Road trips on motorcycles can be exhilarating and fun. However, motorcycle accidents tend to have a much higher percentage of catastrophic injury and death due to their exposed nature. A helmet can help protect you from brain injury if you are in an accident.
3. Stay Alert and Sober
Drowsy driving and driving while under the influence are two major causes of car crashes in America. During a road trip, make sure to plan out stops for food and rest to ensure you can stay alert while driving. Change drivers if necessary.
In addition, as tempting as it may be to hop back in the car after stopping for a beer or two at a local brewery, resist the impulse and do not drive again until you are sober.
4. Avoid Distracted Driving
Distracted driving can include texting, eating, turning around to talk to passengers in the back seat, entering addresses in your GPS, and more. Basically, any time you are driving without your eyes on the road and your hands on the wheel, you are putting yourself and others in danger.
Avoid distracted driving by putting your passengers in charge of things like answering texts, picking the music, and updating the GPS.
5. Buckle Up
Not only is it against the law to not wear a seatbelt while in a moving vehicle, it is dangerous. Seatbelts, when functioning properly, prevent you from flying through the windshield in case of an accident. Always make sure that you and all of your passengers are wearing a seatbelt, and make sure that children are properly secured in car seats or booster seats. In addition, children under 13 should ride in the backseat.
Schedule An Auto Accident Consultation
If you followed all of these safety tips but were still injured in a car accident in Chicago, don’t hesitate to contact Sklare Law Group for your free consultation by calling (800) LAW-0300. We are a family law group who puts your family first.
We serve Chicago and surrounding areas of northern Illinois.
