Long weekends are the perfect time to head out on a road trip with friends and family! While long weekends can be the best time to escape the hustle and bustle of everyday life, there is no escaping the bustle of primary roadways on your way out of town. The risk of a car accident doubles on a long weekend, as does the risk of serious personal injury, and the safety of the roads depends on the decisions that drivers make while behind the wheel. Follow these tips to help ensure that your next road trip is car accident-free.

Impaired Driving

In May of 2018, 110 people were charged with impaired driving after being stopped by Alberta RCMP. After enjoying a few drinks on a night out with friends, it is your responsibility to arrange a safe ride home. Reduce the risk of causing a fatal car accident due to impaired driving by having a plan prior to consuming alcohol.

Distracted Driving

Long weekend driving already poses many distractions. Imagine your kids screaming in the backseat, your co-pilot providing you with directions and a row of cars lined up the highway leaving the city. Your attention is already diverted in a million different directions, and then you decide to add your cell phone to the mix. As tempting as it may be to use your cell phone while driving a car, this decision can have considerable consequences and result in catastrophic personal injuries for yourself, loved ones, or other road users.

Before getting started on your road trip make sure to sync your phone up to Bluetooth, plug in your destination on your GPS and have your playlist ready to go. These precautionary steps will help reduce the need to reach for your cell phone while behind the wheel.

Tailgating

Driving too closely behind other vehicles can be a dangerous driving habit that can lead to a serious rear-end collision and result in personal injuries. By not leaving adequate space between yourself and the vehicle in front of you, you may not be able to stop in time if the preceding driver comes to an abrupt stop. To prevent a car accident, make sure to leave a car length of space between your vehicle and the vehicle in front of you. If you are being followed too closely by a tailgating driver, switch lanes and allow the driver to pass you.