Heading Out on Road Trip This Summer? Here’s an NHTSA Safety Advisory

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Summer is the time of the year where a lot of people go out on road trips to enjoy the great outdoors. As such, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has released a safety advisory last month urging motorists to take necessary precautions to make sure that their vehicles are in their best driving conditions. The traffic safety agency has also reminded motorists to be extra careful when behind the wheel to avoid endangering the lives of not only their passengers but also others.

Here are some of the safety precautions that the NHTSA highlighted in its press release dated June 4, 2013:

• Motorists must do regular maintenance before taking their vehicles to long trips. Tune-ups, oil changes, battery checks, and tire rotations help avoid any breakdowns that might happen in the middle of trips. A maintenance check-up for the vehicle would suffice if it has not been serviced in line with the manufacturer’s recommendations, or that the driver is not aware of the vehicle’s service history.
• Car lights, from headlights, brake lights, turn signals, to emergency lights, must be in good, working condition.
• Before embarking on a road trip, motorists must make sure that they bring with them their emergency roadside kit, especially if an unfortunate breakdown happens. Things to include in the kit are a fully-charged cell phone, first aid kit, drinking water, medicines, and any lighting device such as a flashlight and flares, among others.

Meanwhile, here are some of the reminders from the NHTSA that drivers and passengers must keep in mind:

• Use the seatbelt. Do not drink and drive. Avoid getting distracted.
• Motorists with children must have the latter seated at the back. Younger children must likewise be restrained safely with a booster seat, still at the back of the vehicle. Also, children must not be left unattended; that way, injuries and deaths due to heat stroke are prevented.
• Always watch out for crossing pedestrians, as well as passing bicyclists and motorcyclists. They often go in large numbers, especially since it is the summer season, so it is imperative for motorists to be extra careful when dealing with them on the road.

Incidentally, expert lawyers such as a car accident lawyer in Los Angeles also advise motorists to be physically and mentally prepared for road trips. Fatigue is one factor as to why road accidents during the summer season happen, which is why it is important to be at the best state of mind before going on a long drive.