The time most desired by most has finally arrived, the summer holidays. Heat, beach, disconnection from work and the daily routine … Unfortunately, the other side of the coin is the usual increase in traffic accidents due to the enormous volume of vehicles moving on the roads.
In addition, this year we are facing a somewhat different summer, as we come from a time marked by mobility restrictions and the health emergency due to COVID-19. For a long time we have had to stay in our regions without the possibility of vacations or travel, so it is natural that with the arrival of good weather there is a significant increase in national travel, and with the need to be extremely careful on the roads.
Road Safety is everyone’s business. If we are all aware of the importance of being responsible when driving, we will be able to minimize the risk of serious accidents.
Increased risks on the roads in summer
In addition to the characteristic increase in summer traffic, there are other typical summer factors that pose an added risk on the roads and that must be taken into account.
Caution with heat
In Spain, on the hottest days of summer, the temperature of a car exposed to the sun for a long period of time can exceed 50 degrees, which is a risk when driving. For this reason, before getting in the car and starting the trip, it is recommended to ventilate it by opening windows and doors, turning on the air conditioning and not starting the trip until the interior of the vehicle has acclimatized. If possible, the ideal is to avoid driving in the hottest hours of the day.
Take care of your hydratation and never drink alcohol
Lack of hydration can lead to serious risks while driving. The most common symptoms of dehydration are usually fatigue and drowsiness … It is recommended not to wait to experience these signs to drink water. Always keep a bottle of water on hand in your vehicle and drink frequently, even if you don’t feel particularly thirsty.
It’s also a no-brainer, and hundreds of drivers are penalized every day for exceeding the permitted alcohol level behind the wheel. Do not drink and drive!
Food before and during your trip
If we are going to take long trips in summer, it is important to eat light meals. Otherwise, digestive discomfort can occur that can distract us from driving and affect Road Safety, and also cause drowsiness.
Always travel with suitable and comfortable cloting
Beyond driving in loose fitting, comfortable clothing, it is especially important to note that flip flops should not be worn. The risks of driving with this type of footwear are very serious: they can get caught between the pedals, slip … and prevent reacting in time in the event of an accident.
That sunglasses are never missing
Lack of vision can be one of the main reasons for accident risk. Therefore, it is advisable to wear polarized sunglasses to avoid glare and prevent eye fatigue.
Check your vehicle before and during the journey
It is important to thoroughly check the vehicle before any trip, and especially if it is a long journey. Tires, brakes, check the oil level, the coolant level, check that the lighting devices are working, make sure that the air filter is clean and always wear vests and safety triangles.
Calculate your route previously
Improvisation can be part of the unforgettable trip, but in driving it is not recommended. The ideal is to plan the route to your destination in advance, take into account the stops to rest … In addition, this way you will avoid being constantly aware of the GPS and you will pay more attention to the road. And of course, the use of mobile phones while driving, unless it is to use it as a passive GPS, is totally prohibited.
Always control your speed
We know, controlling speeding is something very obvious when we go on a trip. But still every day traffic accidents happen precisely due to speeding. Remember, no matter how expert you are at the wheel, extreme caution on the road is a great responsibility that we must all carry out.
Travel accompanied
It is always important to ensure Road Safety, but the commitment is even greater when we transport more people in our vehicle. The co-pilot has to try not to over-entertain the driver to avoid confusion, and in the case of traveling with children, you have to find ways to entertain them using iPads, reading stories … And of course, it is mandatory to insist that the occupants use the seat belt.
Now you know the most important points to keep in mind when taking a trip during this summer vacation. Today’s article we want to serve as a guide that you can always turn to whenever you are going on a road trip. Even so, it is always advisable to visit the DGT website for any notice or news of interest.
At Metalesa, protection is our goal
Our mission is the protection of people. As experts in Road Safety, our activity consists of designing, manufacturing and installing infrastructures specially designed to guarantee the safety of people.
Products for Road Safety on highways
Parapets
Los pretiles para carreteras son sistemas de contención para puentes. En Metalesa disponemos del pretil metálico META13 y el pretil metálico META16, los cuales han sido homologados por la norma UNE EN 1317.
Highway parapets are restraint systems for bridges. At Metalesa we have the META13 metal parapet and the META16 metal parapet, which have been approved by the UNE EN 1317 standard.
Transitions to concrete barriers
Highway transitions are used to link different vehicle restraint systems, such as a parapet and a concrete barrier. Our transitions are homologated by the French standard NF 058.
Impact terminals
They are road safety devices that are placed at the ends of the parapets or containment barriers, as a safe ending element. We have several models of impact terminals, which share a series of characteristics such as the possibility of allowing the connection with a double or triple wave bionde, and that all have been tested according to the European standard prEN 1317-7.
Shock atenuators
Also called shock absorbers, their function is to absorb the impact of the car in the event of a crash. They differ from containment system terminals in that they can be installed in isolation, without being connected to any other system. In addition, in case of impact it is easy to repair.
Having said all this, from Metalesa we want to remember that Security does not go on vacation. Our purpose is to protect society through our products for Road Safety and to educate drivers to have an unforgettable, fun and above all safe vacation. Can you help us achieve this goal?