May 24, 2016
Blog
You might think a snowy Winter would be the worst time of year for auto accidents, but you’d be wrong. Summer is actually when automobile accidents increase in number, sometimes drastically. There are a few reasons for this likely increase.
- Busy Roadways – People are more active in the warmer months. After all, there’s a lot to do. Traveling for vacations increases, people take to the roads for the long holiday weekends around Memorial Day and Independence Day, and everywhere you drive is simply more congested.
- Tire Failure – You’re more likely to experience a tire blowout or malfunction on hot days as the heat takes a toll on already worn or faulty tires.
- Irresponsible Driving – Summer comes with lots of holidays and holiday celebrations. Sadly, many people do not choose to celebrate with alcohol responsibly and often get behind the wheel impaired.
- Impaired Visibility – The days are longer and the sun always seems to be shining brighter, sometimes right into your eyes. Glare from the hot mid-day sun may not seem dangerous, but can lead to accidents if you’re not careful.
So how do we avoid becoming part of the Summer automobile crash statistic? Some simple, common sense tips can help.
- Carpooling is a great idea to help reduce roadway congestion. If you’re going on a vacation or road trip, get your friends or family to ride together. Besides, all that time spent together in the car is fun!
- Get your tires checked before the weather gets too hot so you can address any potential issues and avoid a major blowout. You’ll probably get an overall smoother ride out of it too.
- Celebrate responsibly when you’re heading out to an event, a BBQ, pool party, Cardinals game, or holiday gathering. Call a friend, a cab, or Uber for a ride, and keep yourself and others safe.
- Get yourself a great pair of sunglasses. You have your excuse! Go out and splurge on those Ray Bans you’ve been thinking about. They’ll keep the sun out of your eyes so you can avoid a wreck and look fantastic while doing it.
As Memorial Day approaches the team at Schaefer Autobody hopes you have a safe and happy holiday weekend!
