Winter is considered king of hazardous driving conditions, but summer is no slouch.
Longer days mean more activity and more opportunities for trouble. June, July, and August see an increase of drunk drivers on the road and, subsequently, the most alcohol-related crashes and fatalities. In this post we will look at summer driving hazards.
Vehicle trouble
The two most common issues during the summer tire blowouts and overheating engines.
- Tire blowouts: Warm weather leads to an expansion of the air inside your tires. If you don’t regularly check the air pressure of your tires, especially during heat haves, that air pressure can become too much for your tire to handle, leading to a blowout. Always have a spare tire handy just in case.
- Overheated engine: Warm weather can decrease the time it takes for your engine to overheat, but engines don’t overheat for no reason. This issue is often caused by poor maintenance, like failing to have your vehicle’s oil changed and not checking the oil coolant, hoses and belts regularly.
If your engine does overheat, pull over as soon as possible, and seek assistance.
Construction
Putting down the cell phone should always be a priority while driving, especially when driving through work zones. In addition to possibly wrecking your car and injuring yourself, an accident in a construction zone can lead to damage of construction property or another vehicle. Be cautious and follow speed limit guidelines when driving through work zones.
Rain and thunderstorms
Rain and thunderstorms lead to torrential downpours, wind, lightning, hail, tornadoes and even flooding. Inclement weather can cause slick roadways and other hazardous driving conditions like fallen tree branches and window damage due to hail.
Other hazards
Be on the lookout for more pedestrians, motorcyclists and bicyclists — also, animals at dawn and dusk.
If you have questions about a motor vehicle accident, contact an experienced personal injury attorney.
