Summer Driving 2021

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Summer Driving

Don’t Let the Summer Catch You Unprepared

Is driving in the summer months more dangerous? Turns out it is. The amount of car accidents in the summer is worrying and deserves attention and increased awareness.

What Are the Dangers of Driving During the Summer Season?

The causes of car accidents in the summer are due to various reasons such as:

  • Fatigue
  • Vacations
  • Longer driving hours
  • Young drivers (on summer vacation)
  • Heat

Driving in the summer is perceived by us as a routine movement that is no different from driving at any other time. The lack of awareness of the dangers of driving during the summer months is directly related to the lack of knowledge of how to deal with it, which leads to a significant increase in the number of car accidents that actually occur in the summer.

The Vehicle and the Road

  1. Danger of slipping – Yes, even in the summer there is a danger of slipping. Sand, dust, oil or a combination of them can cause slipping just like on a wet road.
  2. Tires – A worn tire or under/excess air pressure, combined with a boiling road, can cause a serious accident. Check the air pressure (when the tires are cold) according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Check the date stamped on the sidewall of the tire and make sure that no more than six years have passed since the production, and make sure that the tire pressure is in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions.
  3. Wipers – Dust and dirt on the windshield and mirrors may cause glare. Make sure that the wipers are in good condition and that the water tank intended for cleaning the windows is always full.
  4. The temperature in the vehicle affects the driver’s alertness – therefore check and if necessary, repair the air conditioning system in the vehicle. Additionally, the use of car shading means may help against the high heat.

Summer Driving

Summer Tips:

  • Be sure to drink water, it is advisable to take a bottle of water for each trip.
  • Do not drive with flip-flops – they can get stuck on the pedals.
  • Sunglasses are a must-have equipment for the Israeli driver. The bright summer light impairs the quality of vision, causes blinking, errors in estimating distances and rapid assessments. Sunglasses make the summer calmer for the eyes.
  • Do not drive without a shirt. The shirt serves as a buffer between the body and the seat belt and helps prevent cuts in the event of emergency braking or an accident.

Fatigue

According to data from the last decade, most of the serious car accidents occurred in the afternoon. It can be assumed that part of the reason for this is a combination of the multiplicity of vehicles traveling during these hours and the fatigue of the drivers.

Road accidents caused by fatigue are usually serious accidents that occur at high speed. Excessive eating, lack of sleep, lack of drinking, medication intake, are just some of the causes of fatigue.

When you feel tired, the only solution is – stop on the side to rest – even for a few minutes.

Do not let fatigue overwhelm you. Refreshments should be planned for on long trips. Stop at parking lots and gas stations, but not on the side of the road. Drink a lot and even a short exercise will not hurt. Remember that you are not able to assess your endurance in fatigue, hence the danger of “falling asleep at the wheel” and a very serious accident is very short.

Watch the video:

Involvement of Children in Car Accidents

Children can be injured not only inside cars but also while walking. During the summer, children are more outdoors and more exposed to vehicle damage. During the vacation, there are no volunteers who can help children cross roads.

Data from the Israel Police show that roughly 30 children are killed every year in road accidents outside the vehicle.

The main means of preventing injuries to children traveling in a vehicle is the use of a safety seat and seat belts that are appropriate for the age and weight of the children.

The effectiveness of these safety accessories has been proven in many studies.

A child up to the age of 9 does not cross the road alone.

Bicycle

A study conducted in the United States shows that during the summer months there is a 45% child mortality as a result of activities related to cycling, scooter and rollerblading.

An analysis of child injury data in bicycle accidents shows that head injuries are the leading cause of death or serious injury.

Studies have shown that a helmet is the most effective means of preventing head injuries. In Israel, there is a law that requires minors (but not adults) to wear a helmet while riding a bicycle, scooter, skateboard or rollerblades in the city.

In practice, however, this law is not enforced, and it is the role of parents to ensure that their children ride legally.

It is advisable to separate the movement of motor vehicles from the movement of cyclists by encouraging children to ride on paths, parks and designated places only.

Baby in Car

In the summer, the vehicle reaches very high temperatures above 70 degrees celsius!
Therefore, do not leave children in the vehicle at all without supervision.

There are lots of systems for preventing children from being forgotten in the car. The cost of the systems is not high, and we highly recommend using them.

Even if the installation has not yet started, it is better to invest a little and take all the measures that will help us.

Watch the video:

 

Drive carefully. Take care of yourself and your family! At your service always, Wishing you a pleasant ride and a safe arrival!

Traffic Safety Officer
LUPU – Car Fleet Management

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