Safe Driving Tips for Summer

Summer is the perfect time to hop in the car and go for a drive. However, before we head out to explore the beautiful days summer brings, we need to be prepared. A few safe driving tips for summer can make a real difference in our summer road trips, no matter how far we go.

Safe Driving Tips for Summer

Safe driving tips can help us enjoy the beautiful days of summer while making memories with friends and family. Beautiful sunny days are perfect for getting outside unless it is too hot. Summer is not only beautiful, it is hot, and that means we need A/C to stay comfy.

However, A/C is not simply cold air from outside; we must filter it first. Check your car’s air filters before summer to ensure you get fresh, cooling air when needed.

Check Hoses and Belts

Checking the air filters should be done before summer. However, some of the best safe driving tips for summer may only be needed halfway through summer. The heat and the beating sun wear down the rubber used in belts and hoses.

Check them and ensure they are in working order and not blistered, cracked, or cut.

Tire Air Pressure

Kicking the tires is not some old saying that has no meaning. In fact, it is a good idea to check your tire pressure once a month, maybe more during summer, depending on the age of the tires. Tires are made of rubber, which is very thick rubber that attracts heat from the sun.

Combine that heat with the road and the air inside the tire, which is getting hot as well, and you have a recipe for deflating tires.

Drink More Water

The summer heat is what causes a lot of the issues during a road trip. However, it should also be a reason to drink more water. In fact, one of the safe driving tips for summer is all about giving your car more fluids. We mainly want to keep an eye on brake fluid, transmission or clutch fluid, power steering fluid, and windshield wiper fluid.

Crack a Window

We do a lot more running around during summer, and things can get a bit hectic. However, we should never leave a pet or child in a car during summer. Some vehicles may come with features they claim could help keep them safe. Unfortunately, not everyone knows what your vehicle is capable of doing.

This means even if the kids are safe, a passerby may not understand and feel the need to break a window and save a life. This is entirely legal in some states, so it is safer not to leave living things in a hot car, pet, child, or otherwise.

Plan Ahead

One of the safe driving tips for summer is a two-parter. We need to plan ahead to ensure we remain as safe as possible. The first step is to have a safety kit in the vehicle. A safety kit can include first aid and basic car maintenance tools.

We can also include food and water if we plan on taking a long trip. The second part is always to have a planned route. Yes, Maps can help us get to where we want to be, but service may not be reliable everywhere. At least know the route a bit before heading out.

Avoid Drowsy Driving

It is easy to get lost in the day during summer; time just moves quickly. This could mean we find ourselves out later than we intended. Drowsy driving is just as bad as drunk driving. Instead, find a place to stop for the night if it gets too late.

We can also pay attention to our energy levels and ensure we hit the road before any drowsiness can set in.