Traffic fatalities are higher in the summer months than at any other time of year, including the winter holiday season. Alcohol, fatigue and aggressive driving are often implicated in these tragedies.
Canadians will take an estimated 12.3 million vacation trips this summer. The Canada Safety Council urges all Canadians to put safety first when they set out on their summer travels.
Keep Your Passengers and Your Vehicle Safe
The number one passenger safety precaution is to make sure everyone is properly buckled up.
Before leaving on vacation, have your vehicle checked to make sure it's safe. Repair or replace worn parts to avoid the worry and time-consuming costly repairs that could spoil your trip. Check all tires, including the spare tire! Carry a flashlight, flares and first-aid kit, where they can be reached easily in case of an emergency. Sunglasses, road maps, a notebook, and a pencil or pen will all come in handy.
When you buy gas, always spend a few minutes on simple maintenance. Check oil and other fluids. Clean the windshield and other glass surfaces including headlights and taillights. This will help increase your mileage and reduce your service costs.
Carrying a Heavy Load or Towing a Trailer
A growing number of Canadians take trailer vacations. Others haul a boat or extra load to their destination. Yet others simply pack a lot of items for a few weeks away from home.
Driving a heavily loaded car or towing a trailer means you need more space to stop or pass. Leave plenty of distance between yourself and the vehicle ahead. Keep your distance - at least one second for each three metres (10 ft.) of vehicle length. A car six metres (20 ft.) long pulling a six metre (20 ft.) trailer should have at least four seconds following distance in ideal conditions. For conditions that are less than ideal, increase the following distance. If cars cut in front of you, drop back to keep your interval.
Long Trips
Fatigue is a major cause of highway collisions, so don't drive for extended periods. If you started early, stop early. Most collisions occur between 6:00 p.m. and 9:30 p.m.
Rest stops are important. A break keeps you more alert as driver, makes the trip more pleasant for your passengers, and lets your vehicle cool down. When you stop for a drink, make it coffee, tea or a soft drink, never alcohol. Avoid driving long distances alone - try to have company whenever possible.
With young children, regular stops are a must. Bring plenty of items to keep them occupied. Special travel games and songs also help.
Adapt to Your Vehicle
Many Canadians are now driving a van or sports-utility vehicle (SUV). With these popular vehicles, precautions are necessary:
• Take extreme care when backing. Check carefully for
• obstacles and children. If necessary enlist a helper.
• Increase your braking distance to compensate for your extra • weight.
• Never intimidate smaller cars into moving over by tailgating.
On the other extreme, if you have a small car:
• Keep out of other vehicles' blind spots.
• Be seen: don't let larger vehicles hide yours from view and • if you don't have daytime running lights use your head lights • on low beam for daytime driving.
• Don't overcrowd the car with passengers or overload it with • too much weight.
Drive Defensively
The Canada Safety Council estimates that 85 per cent of collisions are due to driver error. But being in the right will not save you from injury or death. You must be prepared for the unsafe actions of other motorists or for poor driving conditions.
• Obey all signs and signals, including stop lights, stop signs • • and railway crossings.
• Keep to the posted speed limits.
• Absolutely never drink and drive.