During the upcoming weeks and months, people are likely planning vacations, road trips and outdoor adventures. However, it’s crucial to acknowledge a less sunny aspect of this season: the significant increase in traffic accidents.
Between Memorial Day and Labor Day, known as the “100 Deadliest Days,” the roads can be more treacherous. But awareness is the first step toward safety, and there are practical measures you can take to protect yourself and your loved ones.
Why summer sees more accidents
The reasons behind the spike in summer traffic incidents are multifaceted. Here are some contributing factors:
- Increased traffic volume: With schools out and families hitting the road for holidays, there’s a natural uptick in the number of vehicles on the road. In fact, authorities expect surges in people just heading to the Eastern Shore.
- More novice drivers: Young drivers, who are out of school and have more time to drive, often lack the experience to navigate complex traffic scenarios safely.
- Construction projects: The summer months are prime time for road work, which can create confusing detours and dangerous conditions if not approached with caution.
Understanding these factors can help us stay vigilant. But what specific actions can we take?
Your safety checklist
While understanding the “why” behind the summer accident surge is important, knowing “how” to stay safe is even more so. Some ways to keep your summer travels incident-free include:
- Vehicle maintenance: Regularly check your car’s vital systems—brakes, tires, lights—to avoid malfunctions.
- Defensive driving: Be patient, anticipate the actions of other motorists and be prepared to react safely.
- Wear your seat belt: Buckling keeps you and your passengers safer in the event of a crash.
- Stay focused: Avoid distractions like mobile phones or other electronic devices while driving.
- Obey traffic laws: Give other motorists space, don’t speed and follow other rules of the road.
- Talk to teen drivers: If you are the parent of a teenager, be sure your child knows what they need to do to stay safe, and set limits on their driving, if appropriate.
- Drive sober: Never drive under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
While we cannot control the decisions of other motorists, taking these steps to be safe drivers ourselves improves road safety for everyone.