Summers in Kentucky typically mean more vehicles on the roads, as families head out on road trips or travel to popular vacation destinations. This increases the chance of a car accident, as do the various hazards that come along with summer driving.
You may naturally associate the risk of car accidents with snowy, icy and slippery conditions of winter driving, but there are also various dangers unique to the summertime.
Inexperienced or intoxicated drivers
With the nice weather bringing more drivers out, many of these drivers are young and inexperienced. Stay alert for signs of inexperienced drivers and try to avoid them.
Summer is the season of festivals, barbecues and outdoor events, most of which involve alcohol. This means there are usually also more intoxicated drivers on the road.
Do not drink and drive. If you are going to be drinking, arrange for a rideshare service or have someone else drive and always be on the lookout for intoxicated drivers on the road, especially at night.
Handling road construction
Summer is when most road construction is done. Combined with the heavy flow of summer traffic, this can mean more accidents.
Road construction usually slows us down on the roads, which leads to feelings of impatience or higher stress levels. This can cause drivers to become more aggressive, leading to serious or deadly accidents.
When you plan your summer trips, give yourself extra time and plan for road construction. See if you can learn where road construction is before you go and plan a route to avoid it.
Above all, when you are driving through a work zone, obey the rules. Follow signs and stay in designated lanes. Drive at the posted speed work zone speed limit and respect other drivers on the road.
Pedestrians, bicyclists and motorcyclists
Summer means more than just more vehicles on the road. There are also more pedestrians, bicyclists and motorcycles.
Treat bicyclists and motorcyclists the same as you would any other vehicle. Both are often easy to miss while on the road, so keep an eye out for them and pay attention to the hand signals they use.
Give them plenty of room when turning or passing and don’t forget to check for them when you are parked and opening your doors.
If you are driving in an unfamiliar place, learn the local rules for bicyclists and pedestrians. Always stop for pedestrians at crosswalks and do not go around a car stopped at a crosswalk, as they could be stopped for pedestrians. Remember that many pedestrians may be distracted.
Summer weather
Beware of unpredictable summer weather. Sudden bursts of rain, strong winds and hail can make driving difficult or impossible.
You should go slowly when driving through these types of weather conditions and pull off the road if necessary. Pull off into a safe place, such as a rest stop, and wait for the storm to pass.
A summer car accident can leave you with serious injuries that impact many areas of your life. Learning about your options after an accident caused by someone else’s negligence is important.
