Summer Vacation Driving Tips
Many of us are now planning our summer vacations, and for a lot 
of us, this means we’ll be driving to our vacation destinations. Prevention is key to avoiding accidents. Here are a few tips to help make your road trip a little safer:
- Take care of your tires. Make sure that your tires are inflated to the proper pressure as identified on your vehicle (door pillar, the glove compartment door or the gas cap door). Also check for tread wear to reduce chances of a blowout or hydroplaning on a wet roadway.
- Make sure your windshield wipers work well and that you have plenty of wiper fluid. If Replace blades that are worn.
- Remember to regularly check all your fluid levels.
- Prepare an emergency kit for travel emergencies. Kits should include, at a minimum, a flares, first-aid kit, jumper cables, tire gauge, basic tools and a disposable camera.
- If you have children, check child restraints for a proper fit. At boosterseat.gov, parents can match a child to the correct restraint by entering in height and weight information.
- Pack smarter and lighter. Most of us are guilty of taking everything but the kitchen sink with us on road trips- stuffing our vehicles to the roof with coolers, suitcases, and other items – all to the detriment of the vehicle’s handling (keep the heaviest items as close to the center of the vehicle) – and the driver’s visibility. Bring only what’s necessary and don’t exceed your vehicle’s payload limit.
- Secure your Cargo. In vehicles where passengers and cargo share the same space, such as SUVs and minivans, occupants are only separated from the cargo by a row of seats rather than a solid partition as in vehicles with trunks. A sudden slam on the brakes is enough to cause the cargo to fly forward and cause serious injuries.
Remember prevention is key! We hope you and your family enjoy your summer vacation time together.
