Driving Safely During the Summer Months

The summer is one of the best times to be out on the road. Stay safe!

It's hard to argue that the great road conditions, the warm weather and the fact that there are plenty of places to go and things to see all conspire to make driving a lot of fun during the warmer months of the year. Making sure you're safe on the roads, however, requires you to modify your driving habits a bit.

Long Days, short nights.

The sun comes up earlier and goes down later in the summer, of course. Those later sunsets mean that the sun is low in the sky when a lot of people are heading out for the evening. Remember to turn your lights on around dusk. Even though it might still be light out, it's hard to see when someone is coming out of the sun and it's important that you remember to keep your lights on.

Sleep.

It's easy to stay out later during the summer, given the warm nights and the fact that there's usually a lot going on. Sleep-deprived drivers are just as dangerous as drunk drivers, however. Even if you haven't been drinking, consider grabbing a quick nap before you head home if you've been out very late at night. You'll be much safer on the road to yourself and to everyone around you.

Rain.

It's also easy to forget that summer does have its weather hazards. Be sure that you pay attention to weather reports when you're taking a long trip and remember to slow down if the road gets wet. A wet road increases your stopping distance considerably, even when it's far too warm for it to freeze. You're also at risk of hydroplaning if your car hits a puddle of water at high speed and that can send you straight into the ditch. Tailgating drivers is even more dangerous during rainy conditions than it is normally, so keep far back.
When another driver injures you or destroys your property due to negligent actions on their part, you sometimes have the ability to sue them successfully for damages in court. Consider contacting a good Dallas car accident attorney if you believe that you have been the victim of another driver's negligence. A motor vehicle accident lawyer may be able to work with you to recover damages from the other driver and to help you pay for the expenses that the other driver incurred due to their negligent behavior on the road.