Coping with the Busiest Travel Months

When drivers get together and discuss the worst time of year to drive, they often think of January and February. That may be the case because of weather conditions, but they are not the months that have the most vehicle collisions in them. You may be surprised which months are the worst.

The months of July and August are the months that regularly have the most vehicle collisions. In most cases, the weather is ideal for driving so why is it that they have the most collisions? Volume. Those are the two months that have the most drivers on the roads.

Vacations, road trips, cruising, and more motorcyclists and cyclists on the road are many reasons why the roads seem to be more congested during these months and congestion can often lead to collisions. So, what can you do to avoid becoming involved in a collision during July and August? Glad you asked.

Plan your route

Part of getting around in this heavy summer traffic is making a few plans on how you can navigate those roads. If you’re heading on vacation, you may want to avoid beginning your travels during rush hour. It can be very frustrating heading out of the core with stop-and-go traffic. Leave after rush hour has passed to lessen your frustration and risks. You may also want to use less traveled roads to avoid the rush hour. It may take less time overall.

Before heading out on the road, ensure your vehicle is in good mechanical condition. A sudden breakdown can become stressful and costly when you’re away from home, plus it can certainly put a downer on your mood. For anything that can go wrong, having a credit card for any emergencies can come in handy.

Expect sudden moves

Those who are on vacation, may be looking for certain exits, streets, and locations and make last-minute lane changes. Anticipate the last-minute exits each time you’re approaching a highway exit. Adjust your speed so you’re driving beside space – staggered – so those who need to move over can do so without you in their path.

Pack for visibility

Anytime you’re traveling by car, you want to ensure you have good visibility out of your windows and your mirrors. Overpacking the back of your vehicle means your inside mirror is of no use. Although your outside mirrors can help, they aren’t as good as the inside mirror to know exactly what’s happening directly behind you.

Speaking of packing, ensure items in the back of the vehicle will not fly forward during any sudden braking or a quick lane change. Flying objects can cause a distraction or perhaps may hit an occupant. Keep objects below the top of the backseat.

Watch for motorcycles

Since more motorcycles come out during the warmer months, keep moving your eyes from well ahead, side to side and your mirrors regularly. Since motorcycles are smaller than passenger vehicles, they may become difficult to spot coming from behind if you stop checking your mirrors often enough. A check every 5 to 10 seconds can help you see them before they get into your blind spot.

Keep extra space

Most people seem to be in a hurry to reach their summer destination and do their best – or worst – to put pressure on other road users to get out of their way. To compensate for aggressive drivers, increase your following distance so you can brake but not as hard if the traffic ahead suddenly slows down.

Do your best to always drive beside space. For drivers who wish to weave in and out of traffic, this will give them room to do so without affecting your safety. You’re giving them room to pass you and remove them as a risk to you and your passengers.

You may also want to travel further away from those who have a rooftop carrier. If anything comes loose from that carrier, it could fly off and either strike your vehicle or at least cause a distraction for you. The same could be said for anyone transporting unsecured items in the back of a pickup truck. Stay well back or change lanes away from them.

Use a co-pilot

Distractions have been the cause of many vehicle collisions for many years. We often do it to ourselves so we need a plan to remove them so we can focus on the driving environment. Turn your cell phone to silent or off, especially if you are traveling with passengers. Let a front-seat passenger be your navigator to let you know well in advance you have to turn or exit so you can avoid looking at the screen.

Your co-pilot can also help you by reaching into the backseat to grab your water, make phone calls or reply to text messages, and program the music playlist.

Take breaks

Fatigue can be a big problem during a long drive during summer vacation. Plan where you would take a break to get out and stretch. Not only are breaks a good physical break, but they can also become a good mental break. After the break, you’ll be in a better position to focus on the next leg of your journey.

Breaks are a good time to grab a snack, refresh your water, and use the washroom. You may also want to combine the break with fueling up. Running low on fuel can distract your focus on the driving environment since you’re constantly worried about running out of fuel.

Allow time

If you’re traveling to an area you have not been to before, allow time for exploring around the area so include “free time” in your plan. Seeing interesting sites while driving does add to the distractions you’re facing.

At any time if you are delayed with reaching your destination, especially if meeting up with other people, ensure you contact them so they are not worried about your lack of appearance.

Conclusion

Road trips can be a lot of fun, even during the two busiest months of the year for vehicle collisions. Be organized, patient, and focused and you’ll be better prepared to reach your destination safely.