Accidents can happen when we’re outside of our routines, so it’s important to be aware of these potential road trip dangers
We can get a little sloppy on vacation. Vehicles have gotten really, really comfortable, and it’s easy to think you’re in your home on wheels, listening to your favourite music or podcast. But neverending construction and expanding congestion can fray everybody’s last nerve; add in driving outside of your usual patterns and routes and it’s a recipe that can lead to some lethal mistakes.
You already know the top three contributors to drivers crashing — speed, distraction, impairment — and you should never forget they’re the most dangerous. But three others can also happen when we’re outside of our routines, and they can prove to be just as deadly.
1. Don’t forget to wear your seatbelt
How do airbags work?
Airbag technology has saved tens of thousands of lives and prevented even more injuries, They are also a product that ignites and performs within milliseconds at high velocity. Your seatbelt is designed to keep you in the proper place in the event the airbag deploys. Think of a well-rehearsed duo who move in smooth synchronicity. The seatbelt has you in the proper seating position. If you get hit or hit something, the belt keeps you in place while the airbag ignites to prevent you from slamming into the steering column or windshield. An airbag without a seatbelt could cause severe injury and is not how the system was intended to operate.
2. Keep your feet off the dashboard
It’s frequently young women who do this. I used to. We’re more likely to be a passenger, and we’re often more flexible. The practice usually lends itself to reclining your seat at the same time, which compromises the ability of your seatbelt to hold you in proper position. I’ve also seen drivers with their feet on the dash or propped outside the window in a couple of instances — cruise control’s unintended consequence. Of everything I see happening on our roads, nothing rattles me more than seeing someone casually propping their feet up on the dashboard of a car. Please don’t. Please remind those you love.
3. Do not get out of your vehicle
If you’re involved in a collision, it’s common to hop out to assess damage and speak with any other drivers involved. If you’re travelling a busy multi-lane highway, the safest place for you is inside your vehicle. Immediately put on your four-way flashers. Practice finding that button in your driveway; many drivers rarely use it, and your head will be scrambled if you’ve just been involved in a crash. If you can, maneuver to a safe shoulder as far away from line lanes of traffic as possible. Call for assistance.
If you’re in unfamiliar surroundings, especially at night in isolated areas, pay attention to what’s happening around you. A desperate person waving you over with a flat tire? Someone looks hurt? Fight your instinct to stop, and call for help instead. The odds are for most of us, our medical and mechanical training is not nearly as good as the people we can summon who do this for a living. Getting genuine victims the right help, fast, is your very best call.
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