Snow, rain, and ice are widespread cold-weather threats to driver security, however summer season brings with it its personal set of risks. For drivers, the added site visitors of summer season vacationers is simply a part of the elevated danger — development, solar glare, and unpredictable climate patterns all add to the hazard.

In accordance with the Insurance coverage Institute for Freeway Security, summer season and fall are essentially the most harmful occasions of the yr for drivers, with July and August being the deadliest. Extra drivers are out on the street throughout that point, which will increase the chance of collisions.

For fleets {and professional} drivers, this time of yr isn’t simply enterprise as ordinary; it requires extra consideration to secure driving practices. Right here’s a have a look at eight methods to remain secure behind the wheel.

No. 1: Prioritize Automobile Upkeep

Excessive warmth takes a toll on autos. It could actually result in tire blowouts and might have an effect on your automobile’s braking skill. It causes your engine to overheat extra simply and locations elevated stress on nearly each mechanical operate your automobile performs.

Paying further consideration to tire stress and tread, checking the brakes continuously, and ensuring that your automobile’s cooling system has all the right fluids will help maintain autos from being sidelined through the summer season months.

No. 2: Keep Alert for Distracted Drivers on the Highway

Whether or not it’s households on trip or college students heading towards the seashore, summer season roads are stuffed with drivers who’re extra distracted than ordinary. Whereas distracted drivers are already a risk on the roads, summer season can carry extra distractions than ordinary, so be careful for drivers who aren’t watching out for you. Should you see a distracted driver, give your self more room to keep away from being close to them on the street.

No. 3: Keep Knowledgeable of Climate Situations

Relying on what a part of the nation you’re in, your summer season climate patterns might embody thunderstorms, downpours that end in flash flooding, tornados, and extra.

These usually can occur with little to no warning, so be sure to know the forecast for the world you’re driving every day, and test in periodically simply to ensure nothing has modified.

No. 4: Be Conscious of Peak Journey Instances and Occasions

Some days are extra harmful than others; weekends and sure holidays are related to a rise in ingesting and driving. So, for skilled drivers who’re behind the wheel throughout that point, it requires extra consideration to the encircling hazards.

July 4 is especially lethal, each by way of motorbike fatalities and passenger autos. On the weekends, the very best variety of deadly crashes occur between 3 and seven p.m., so concentrate on elevated danger once you’re behind the wheel — and take further security precautions as wanted.

No. 5: Prioritize Eye Take care of Optimum Driving

Driving will be onerous on the eyes, interval. However throughout summer season months, when the solar is out in full power, there’s additionally an elevated quantity of solar glare coming off the street and different autos.

This may be notably harmful through the early morning and late night, so put money into a great pair of polarized sun shades. They’ll assist shield your eyes from fatigue and injury, lower down on glare and make it simpler to see clearly.

No. 6: Keep a Protected Following Distance

Whether or not you’re hauling a heavy load or driving a light-duty automobile, growing your following distance will help offset the risks introduced by heavier site visitors, development zones and vacationing drivers who’re touring in unfamiliar areas.

No. 7: Acknowledge and Reply to the Influence of Warmth on Driving

Lastly, it’s straightforward to dismiss simply how a lot the solar can have an effect on us, nevertheless it’s essential to concentrate to the way it impacts each drivers and autos. Warmth exhaustion could make drivers drowsy, and an overheated automobile can depart them stranded.

This isn’t the time to push your self or your automobile previous the restrict — that solely makes it unsafe for everybody on the street. You possibly can fight fatigue by taking frequent breaks, and taking note of your automobile’s warning indicators can stop you from breakdowns and malfunctions.

No. 8: Don’t Neglect Your Keys

The Smith5Keys® are the inspiration of the Smith System driver security coaching program, they usually’re designed to offer drivers the information they should observe safer driving.

Utilizing The Smith5Keys, drivers can learn to give themselves the area they want on the street, the visibility to detect hazard, and the time wanted to react to complicated driving environments. Studying the 5Keys, or refreshing your information of those rules and easy methods to use them, will help you’ve a safer summer season behind the wheel.

Whilst you can’t change the conduct of different drivers round you or the circumstances of the street you’re on, following these eight suggestions will help you’ve a more healthy, safer summer season.