Road Safety this Summer

With the arrival of summer, many persons are planning road trips and vacations to connect and unwind with loved ones.

One important aspect of these road trips, however, often gets overlooked.

“Sometimes little attention is given to road safety in the heightened anticipation of group outings. It is important that while making plans for special trips that one is cognisant of keeping safe, otherwise an outing can easily become ruined even by a minor accident,” says assistant general manager of JN General Insurance, Joseph Holness.

In observance of June as Road Safety Awareness Month, here are five tips to make your road trips safe this summer:

1.Drive cautiously

“Be a disciplined and courteous driver.  Observe speed limits, buckle up or wear a helmet if riding, obey road signs, indicate when turning or changing lanes, and only overtake when it is safe to do so,” Mr Holness urged.

While caution should be taken on all roads, exercise vigilance on certain roadways where motorists are at greater risks for crashes. These roadways include Edward Seaga Highway; PJ Patterson Highway; Constant Spring Road, St Andrew; Mandela Highway, St. Catherine; Duncans Bypass, Trelawny; Howard Cooke Boulevard; St James; Bustamante Highway, Clarendon; and Spur Tree, Manchester.  

2. Avoid Risky Behaviors

The use of alcohol and illegal drugs also impair driving and puts you at a higher risk of losing control of the vehicle.  A Drinking and Driving report produced by the World Health Organisation and the Pan American Health Organisation shows that an alcohol impaired driver is 17 times more likely to crash than a sober person.  This is because alcohol affects vision, reflexes and judgement.

Distracted driving, such as texting on a cellphone, also puts you at risk for a crash.  Where possible, use Bluetooth technology if you need to talk on your phone. 

3. Be mindful of Children

Children will be on holidays and will likely be playing outdoors.  Be on the alert for children crossing or even playing in the road.  Also, pay keen attention to children who are accompanying you in your vehicle.  Use the child lock feature on rear doors to prevent them opening them while driving and ensure they are using a car seat or booster seat depending on their age and size.  Older children should be in the rear seat and wearing a seatbelt. Never leave children in the vehicle alone, even for a short time.

4. Reduce Risk of Driver Fatigue

Long road trips can lead to fatigue.  Ensure that you get six to eight hours sleep before a trip.  Also, be aware of the side effects of medication that you are taking as some cause drowsiness. Keep alert by taking frequent breaks and rehydrating.  If you are feeling drowsy, drive to a well-lit public area and take a nap.  Don’t be tempted to continue driving because you are near home.

“Driving while being drowsy affects your ability to be attentive and impacts response time when there is a need to brake suddenly. Moreover, you run the risk of falling asleep, thereby, endangering your life and the life of other road users which has legal implications if persons become injured or die as a result of causing a collision,” Mr Holness asserts.

5. Protect yourself from Glare

Glare from the sun or from the headlamp of an oncoming vehicle at night can impair your vision, thus affecting your ability to correctly determine the distance between you and another motorist.  When this happens, reduce speed to lessen the risk of a collision.  A glare can be worsened by dirty windscreen. Check that your wipers are in good working condition and that sufficient windscreen wash is available so you can clean your windshield when it becomes necessary. 

In daytime
Use your vehicle’s visors to shield your eyes from the direct glare by positioning them on the front windshield or side window.  A pair of sunglasses can also help to deal with this problem. Sunglasses should not be worn at night to protect against headlamp glares.

At nighttime
Bright headlights, which have similar effects as the sun glare, can impair the vision. If an oncoming vehicle with bright headlamps is approaching you, avoid looking directly at the lights. Instead, look slightly away while maintaining focus on the road.

Have fun this summer while making road safety a priority so you don’t become a statistic.

Statistics provided by the Road Safety Unit show that from January to June 17, 2022, 222 persons perished in road crashes.  The fatalities for the corresponding period last year is the same.