There are a number of reasons why we love summer. For one, if you are a student, teacher, work in education, or even just a parent, you usually look forward to having a couple of months off to relax before the hecticness of school and extracurricular activities start up again.
Summer is also the time when many of us find the time to decompress a bit and get away on a nice vacation.
This laid-back feeling we have when it comes to summer is something that a lot of us probably think applies to driving at this time of year also.
After all, rain has slowed down, the sun is bright so you can see clearly, and there’s less of a rush to get to school and other activities.
But here at J. Gonzalez Injury Attorneys, we know that sadly this is not always the case, as summer time holds plenty of hazards for drivers. In fact, some of the most dangerous times of the year for driving are the days around July 4th and the beginning of August.
The following are some of the reasons why driving becomes more dangerous during the summer months:
- Vacation road trips: Roads have more drivers and get backed up because so many people hit the highways for summer breaks. To make things even tougher for everyone, out-of-towners (or individuals from out-of-state) are less familiar with the roads they are on, making the likelihood of accidents higher.
- Fatigue: On these vacation road trips, motorists usually have to cover long distances, which is usually much farther than they would drive on even the busiest days in their hometowns. If they stay behind the wheel for too long, they may begin to lose their ability to focus and concentrate, and potentially even fall asleep if driving at night.
- Inexperienced drivers: The fact that school is out increases the likelihood that there will be more teenagers on the road. There are many situations they may not have been faced with, particularly if they travel beyond home, and that uncertainty and inexperience can be dangerous for all other drivers on the road.
- High temperatures: The heat of summer can affect a driver, especially if they are driving long distances. It may seem strange to worry about dehydration while driving but it is important to have something to drink to avoid the negative effects of not having enough fluids. The heat can also lead to problems with your tires, like blowouts, if they are not carefully monitored.
- Impaired drivers: The summer is a time for celebration. From Memorial Day to the Fourth and even graduations, there are plenty of times to enjoy an alcoholic beverage with family and friends to commemorate special achievements, or even just get-togethers. However, this also increases the likelihood that more people will be out on the road after drinking.
- Higher driving speeds: When taking a trip that can last for hours, and sometimes spread out over more than one day if a driver is adventurous, there is always the temptation to “make good time”. This rush goes against the desire to relax and causes drivers to travel at high speeds, often exceeding the legal limit and raising the probability of accidents.
- More construction: Construction crews are out in force during the summer months and drivers need to be aware of them as their vehicles move slower across roadways. This is especially true as many construction workers are usually on foot.
The fact is that the potential accidents are everywhere during the summer. Beyond the previously mentioned hazards, there’s also the issue of distracted drivers.
It’s important to remember that more people tend to hit the roads on bicycles and motorcycles and that your driving awareness has to be raised when changing lanes and at intersections to keep them in their field of vision.
The J. Gonzalez Injury Attorneys encourages everyone who shares the road this summer to take each other’s safety into account whenever they get behind the wheel.
Doing so will help reduce the number of accidents that occur and will allow everyone to enjoy their much-deserved summer vacation.
However, if tragedy does strike and you are injured in a car accident, contact us right away at (956) 630-6700 and let us go to work for you. Our experienced team will make sure that you get the justice you deserve and the compensation you need to get your life back on track.
