Summer is finally here, and now that kids are getting out of school and the weather is warming up, families are starting to make vacation plans. For many families, vacations often involve at least a little time on the road, or possibly a lot of time depending on your destination and preferred mode of transportation. Regardless of how far you plan to travel this summer, it’s vital that you plan ahead and make sure you are as prepared as possible for your upcoming road trip.
At Murphy Falcon & Murphy, we see a lot of personal injury cases throughout the year, and it’s no surprise that many of those cases happen during the summer when so many people are on the road. Our team wants to ensure that you are as safe as possible, which is why we’ve put together a little checklist for your summer road trip. Continue reading below for our tips, and if you find yourself in need of our personal injury law services this summer, don’t hesitate to reach out to our law firm in Baltimore.
Get Your Vehicle Road Ready
Before any big road trip, it’s a good idea to make sure your vehicle is ready for the journey ahead. You may think that preparing your vehicle consists of simply filling it up with a tank of gas, but there is so much more you can do.
Even when you aren’t planning a road trip, it’s a good idea to make sure you perform routine maintenance, such as oil changes. By taking this step throughout the year, it helps your vehicle stay in good shape and makes it easier for you to plan for your road trip. Additionally, consider planning a tune-up right before you leave. Get your battery and tire pressure checked, as well as have a technician inspect your vehicle to make sure it’s ready for the road.
Focus On the Road
Once you get on the road for your trip, it’s important that you stay focused on the road. Often, people get into accidents because they are distracted, even if it’s for just a second. Things like changing the radio station, eating a snack, using your phone, and talking to your passengers can all be distractions that take your focus from the road.
A great way to make sure your focus stays on the road while you’re driving is to assign tasks to your passengers. For example, the person riding in the front passenger seat could be in charge of snack distribution, navigation, and music. Additionally, if you are traveling with children, make sure you have some activities planned that will keep them occupied while you’re on the road.
Take Regular Breaks
The longer you drive, the more tired your eyes can get, which can lead to accidents on the road. For this reason, we recommend taking regular breaks and limiting night-time driving. In addition to taking breaks when you need the restroom and to fill up on gas, consider stopping every couple of hours just to get out and stretch your legs, switch drivers, or even sit down somewhere to eat instead of going through the drive-through. If you want to make your trip more exciting, you can also plan ahead and find some interesting attractions along your route that give you a reason to stop every once in a while.
Keep An Emergency Kit In Your Car
It’s always a good idea to plan ahead and prepare for an emergency. Ideally, you’ll get to your location safe and sound without any issues. However, the last thing you would want is to find yourself unprepared for an emergency. That’s why, at Murphy Falcon & Murphy, we recommend making sure you have an emergency kit in your car at all times. You can buy a pre-made emergency kit, or you can create your own, complete with a cellphone and car charger, jumper cables, water bottles, a first-aid kit, a flashlight, and more.
Watch for Children
If part of your road trip takes you through suburban areas, it’s important that you make sure to watch for children. Now that it’s summer and kids are out of school, there’s a good chance they will be outside playing more frequently. For this reason, it’s important to make note of speed limits and watch out for children playing in the streets, riding bikes, and more. It’s also important that you make sure you don’t have any distractions while you’re driving through areas where there might be kids playing, as distractions can make you lose focus and possibly result in an accident.
PARTNER WITH MURPHY, FALCON & MURPHY TODAY
Summer is a great time for planning trips either with your partner, your family, or even on your own. That being said, if you plan to travel or take a road trip this summer, it’s vital you take the necessary precautions to ensure you and your travel companions are as safe as possible.
If you live in Baltimore or the surrounding areas, and you find yourself in need of a personal injury attorney, whether it be the result of a road trip or not, our team at Murphy Falcon & Murphy is here to help. Explore our website to learn more about our services, and give us a call to schedule a consultation today.