Many experts predict that America should see more travelers and tourism this year. That’s not exactly surprising. Many individuals and families are only taking vacations after avoiding travel during the pandemic’s early days.
The American road trip sounds appealing, and many families will get out on the highways and byways in 2023. Some might have exotic destinations in mind, while others might simply visit an aunt and uncle in Duluth or Davenport.
Wherever you’re heading this year, if you’re driving with the family, you should avoid dangerous road behaviors. We’ll discuss a few right now.
Checking Your Smartphone While Driving
The NHTSA says smartphones cause 26% of car accidents. Consider that for a moment. Slightly more than one out of every four car accidents involve someone using a smartphone.
Smartphones are amazing devices. They’re computers you can carry with you in your pocket. You can check IMDB to remember that guy’s name who was in that thing, or you can update your Facebook status while rocketing down the highway.
If you’re doing the latter, though, that’s troublesome. You might cause an accident, as that NHTSA stat indicates.
Put the phone away when you’re driving. Keep it in your pocket, and silence the notifications as well. If it’s tempting you when it’s in your pocket, put in the glove compartment or let your significant other hold it in the passenger’s seat. The drivers around you and the other family members in your car will thank you.
Don’t Pull Over at Poorly-Lit Truck Stops or Diners
Maybe you’ve been on the road for a while, and you’re getting pretty tired. You might tell your spouse or partner you’ll pull off at the next exit to fuel up and grab a Red Bull or a Mountain Dew.
When you do, look around you. Perhaps you feel tired, but you should still exercise some self-awareness. Only pull into diner parking lots, truck stops, or gas station parking lots with many lights on. If you pull into a dark parking lot, you never know who might try mugging you or aggressively panhandling.
Crime lurks in the darkness. If you stay in well-lit areas, you should do fine. If you can pull into a parking lot with many people around, that’s even better.
Don’t Let the Kids Distract You
When you’re driving, don’t turn around and yell at the kids. Maybe they’re usually little angels, but now you’re on a long road trip, and perhaps they’re feeling crabby. Maybe they’re shouting at each other or crying. Perhaps they can’t share their favorite SpongeBob toy.
You can speak to them or even yell at them if you feel you must, but don’t turn around. If you do, you might hit a car ahead of you that stops at that moment. You can also ask that your spouse or partner discipline them if you have another adult with you.
If you let the kids distract you too much, you can cause a wreck before you know it. Try taking a deep breath and counting to ten. Pull over and discipline them if you feel the need, but don’t lose your cool while driving at 70 miles per hour.
Don’t Speed
Speaking of driving fast, you shouldn’t break the speed limit. If you do, don’t exceed it by more than five miles per hour.
The police might not pull you over if you go 70 in a 65 zone, but any more than that, and you’re risking a ticket. Maybe you’ve driven all day, and you want the trip to be over, but if you speed, you endanger yourself, your passengers, and other drivers.
Sticking to the speed limit demonstrates maturity. You should show your kids that. Someday, they’ll drive as well, and if they saw you speed, they’ll think it’s okay.
Don’t Drink and Drive
You should also avoid starting the party before reaching your destination. If you’re away from work and home, you may feel you should not have any responsibilities. Perhaps you’ll appreciate a good, stiff cocktail when you reach a relative’s house or the hotel where you’re staying.
Don’t start drinking before you arrive. Don’t bring alcohol in the car with you, but if you do, don’t open it. You should not have an open container in the car. The police can ticket you if you do that, even if you don’t indulge.
If you follow these rules, you should enjoy your trip.
