Labor Day weekend is the signal of the end of summer and is known for an excessive amount of traveling. And after 2020, many Pennsylvania residents will take to the roads to enjoy their long, holiday weekend.
However, the holiday weekend also signals more people on the road – which means a higher likelihood of accidents, crashes and fatalities. According to The National Safety Council (NSC), there were about 390 people who passed on U.S. roads during the Labor Day holiday period in 2020. Many researchers suggest the influence of alcohol causes a spike during the summer holiday, so drivers will need to keep their eyes out and remember these simple tips for traveling during Labor Day.
Check your car before hitting the road
Whether you are planning a road trip or just driving around town, you need to make sure that your vehicle is fully maintained. This includes:
- Checking the engine
- Inspecting the radiator
- Get an oil change if necessary
- Fill your wiper fluid
- Make sure brakes work correctly
- Monitor any other fluids or specific car issues
It seems moderately simple, but properly maintaining a vehicle prevents a possible disaster while traveling. You should also include an emergency kit that has a flashlight, a blanket, tire gauge, jumper wires, a took kit and bottles of water.
Avoid heavy traffic
More traffic means more possibilities for accidents, so there are two main tactics to avoid the additional traffic. First, try to schedule your traveling for the “off” times. If you avoid driving at rush hours and later in the evenings, you avoid the worst offenders when it comes to drunk driving or distracted driving.
Next, you can look for alternate routes that keep you off the highway or out of highly-populated areas. If you drive through residential streets or low-populated roads, you won’t run into as many drivers and may hit your final destination faster.
Stay aware around large trucks
Large trucks are more likely to be traveling during the holiday weekend, so drivers need to be aware of their bling spots and avoid cutting them off while changing lanes. Larger trucks require more time to react, so they can easily tip or cause more issues if they do not have the proper reaction time.
The most important tip is to use common sense and drive as safely as you can. And once you do, you can enjoy your holiday in peace.