Driving Tips for Summer Trips

More Canadians die on the road during 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. The Canada Safety Council urges all Canadians to put safety first when they set out on their summer travels.

Long Trips

Canadians often travel tremendous distances when they go on vacation. This creates a temptation to keep driving for extended periods even when tired. On top of this, many of our routes are quite monotonous, another factor that can make a driver sleepy.

Fatigue is a form of impairment, so don't give in to that temptation to push on. If you started early, stop early. If you feel fatigued, have a good sleep before you take the wheel. It might be better to delay your trip until the morning. Rest stops are important. A break keeps the driver alert by promoting blood circulation, makes the trip more pleasant for passengers and lets the vehicle cool down.

If you are traveling with young children, regular stops are a must. Bring plenty of items to keep them occupied. Special travel games and songs also help.

It is never safe to leave a child, a vulnerable person or a pet alone in a vehicle. Even on days that seen almost mild, the passenger compartment can turn into an oven in 20 minutes or less, with potentially deadly consequences.

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, for condition and tire pressure including the spare tire. Replace your windshield wiper blades if they are worn or cracked. Make sure all lights work, including signal lights. 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 three seconds for each six metres (20 ft.) of vehicle length. A car six metres long pulling a six metre trailer should have at least six 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 separation.

Before you tow a trailer or haul a load, make sure your vehicle is properly equipped for the job. Check your owner's manual or if in doubt contact your vehicle dealer. Check that your rear view mirrors give a clear view of the road behind.

When traveling slower than the flow of traffic, be courteous. Pull over where possible to let faster vehicles pass.

Adapt to Your Vehicle

Many Canadians are now driving a van, truck or sports-utility vehicle. 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 vehicles 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. Check your owner's manual for maximum vehicle load.

Drive Defensively

The Canada Safety Council estimates that 85 per cent of collisions are preventable. But simply 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 speed limits, traffic lights, stop signs and railway crossings.
* If you drive with a wireless phone, avoid unnecessary calls and always make the driving task your top priority.
* Absolutely never drink and drive.