Counter to what many may believe, car accident frequency actually increases during the summer. In Part I of this two-part blog series, we covered increased traffic, teen drivers, construction zones, and summer celebrations all contributing to a spike in car accidents during the warmer months. But there’s more to the story. Some of the most dangerous factors are less about the roads themselves and more about how drivers behave when they’re out of their normal routine. Let’s take a closer look at that:
Fatigue From Long Trips
Summer vacations often involve long drives to far-off destinations, and many of people try to squeeze every last mile out of the day. That can lead to drivers staying behind the wheel long after they should have taken a break. Fatigue can seriously impact the judgement and reaction time of any driver. A tired driver is a dangerous one, especially at the end of a long day on unfamiliar roads.
Distractions Inside the Vehicle
Family road trips are great for making memories, but it’s important to remember that they come with plenty of distractions. Everything from crying children to backseat bickering can pull a driver’s attention away from the road. When you’re trying to focus on the road, but also mediating snack debates or searching for dropped toys, it becomes much easier to miss a stop sign or drift out of your lane.
Navigating Unfamiliar Roads
Another common summer driving hazard is unfamiliarity with the area. Vacation travel often takes people off their usual routes and into cities, small town, or scenic highways they don’t drive every day. This means more drivers looking at GPS directions, scanning for street signs, or hesitating at intersections. This can lead to slower reactions, unexpected stops, and erratic driving behavior, all of which increase the risk of a crash.
These summer-specific challenges are easy to underestimate, but being knowing about them can help you prevent accidents. If you have the misfortune of being involved in an accident, understanding the details of how and why it happened is key. That’s where we come in. Here at 4n6xprt Systems, we have sophisticated tools, including forensic car accident reconstruction software and point cloud models, that can provide valuable insights. Our software is highly accurate, providing you with the information you need for court, insurance, or other purposes. Give us a call at 619-464-3478 to learn more about how we can help today!