The cost of airline tickets to travel to destinations has significantly increased throughout the decades. Train fares are equally costly and passengers lack the options in choosing specific stops during their journey. Traveling by car, however, is the next best way of traveling. There is nothing like driving on the open road and choosing where and when to stop as you traverse the countless roadways. You choose every aspect of the journey, from the planning, the destinations, the postcards to make or buy along the way, the best routes, and directions to take. Today, we will discuss a few safety tips to consider while driving to your selected destinations.
Car Accident
No one ever wants to think about accidents on their epic journey. However, accidents can occur anytime and anywhere. Whether you are just starting your journey or halfway through, car accidents can happen in a split moment and can cause devastating effects. For instance, you are driving along a street in Utah and come up to a traffic light. You wait a moment for the light to turn green. It turns green and as you are passing through the traffic light, another car suddenly hits you. For a moment you stay completely still as you are still in shock about the car accident Utah drivers dread. Thankfully, you have no major injuries. Your vehicle, however, has sustained a considerable amount of damage. You wonder what will happen after calling the local police.
Safety Tip: The first thing you should do in a car accident is to first check yourself for injuries and to call 9-1-1 to report the emergency. Do not attempt to move your vehicle from the scene of the accident. Please wait for local law enforcement to arrive first.
Flat Tire
Although not as severe as a car accident, getting a flat tire can certainly be inconvenient. Here you are driving along the highway when all of a sudden your tire goes flat. You hear the thumping and feel the vibration caused by the flat tire. Your car loses speed. You find it difficult to steer.
Safety Tip: If the flat happens in the middle of the highway, turn on your hazard lights immediately. Remove your foot from the gas pedal and do not press hard on your brake pedal. Allow your car to slowly lose speed on its own. Do not attempt to sharply turn your steering wheel, as this may inadvertently cause an accident. Instead, and if possible, try to softly guide the steering wheel towards the shoulder of the highway to safely remove your car from ongoing traffic.
Overheating
You have always considered yourself to be up to date on the maintenance of your car. You’ve had the oil changed and made sure you brought a spare tire with you on your journey. A few things you forgot to check was the radiator, water pump, and coolant. Driving to the store to pick up some items before the trip, your car suddenly starts to emit a strange smell. Seconds later, smoke is starting to come out from under your hood. You stop your car and open your hood.
Safety Tip: Before opening the hood, let your car cool down for a moment. It is recommended to wait until a considerable amount of smoke or steam begins to dissipate. Do not directly touch or open your radiator cap immediately. This is to prevent serious injuries from occurring due to the high heat caused by overheating. Instead, use gloves or a thick cloth material to protect your hands.
Windshield Wipers
The windshield wipers of your car may seem trivial to think about. It is actually an important component of your vehicle to help you drive safely. Windshield wipers are vital, especially when traveling to and through areas that may experience heavy rainfall. It can also help wipe away debris such as fallen leaves and snow.
Safety Tip: Whether you are traveling or just driving around your area, check your windshield wiper blades. Check to see if there is any damage to the rubber blade. Also, check to see if the wiper arm that holds the blade is not bent or damaged. Do not continue to use your windshield wipers if any of the parts are found to be damaged. This is to prevent damage to the windshield and additional damage to the windshield wiper assembly.
These are only a few safety tips to consider when traveling by car. Also, remember to adhere to local traffic laws in every state throughout your journey. Now go on, be safe and experience the open road.