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Crash course: this summer's road forecast: conditions could become deceptively dangerous

Men's Fitness, August, 2004 by Brian Good

As if worrying about bug bites and sunburns weren't enough, you also need to be extra careful while driving your car this summer. Government stats show that more highway deaths occur in August than in any other month. Here's how to protect yourself while behind the wheel.

ROAD RULE NO. 1:

Shut up and drive. According to data from the University of Rhode Island, using a cellphone reduces a person's ability to see while talking and in the moments after hanging up. The worst times to chat: while driving through heavy traffic or in poor weather.

ROAD RULE NO. 2:

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Make everybody in the car buckle up. Strapping yourself in is an obvious tip, but a study in the Journal of the American Medical Association warns that riding in a car with unbuckled passengers may increase your risk of dying in an auto accident as well--by up to 20% in some cases. (The added risk comes from the unbuckled person slamming into you during a collision.)

ROAD RULE NO. 3:

If possible, avoid tailing SUVs. After studying highway-traffic patterns, University of Central Florida researchers found that cars following SUVs have a greater risk of rear-end collisions (since it's harder for drivers to see around the vehicles and adjust their speed).

ROAD RULE NO. 4:

Take the scenic route. An Ohio State University study shows that drivers traveling along a scenic route may feel less stress and aggression than those behind the wheel on a more commercial or industrial highway, and are therefore less likely to have an accident.

ROAD RULE NO. 5:

If you have a choice when renting, go for the silver midsize. A New Zealand study found that silver cars are the least likely to be involved in accidents--and are a whopping 50% safer than white, red, and blue cars. (Brown, black, and green cars are the riskiest.) As for the model: midsize cars, minivans, and import luxury cars have the best safety records.

ROAD RULE NO. 6:

Pay special attention to your tires. Tires are more sensitive in hot weather, and if you're on vacation, you'll probably be going faster for longer distances over bigger roads--all of which can put you at increased risk for a flat. "Check the tread," cautions Liz Neblett, a spokesperson for the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, "and make sure the car's tires are inflated to the tire pressure recommended for your vehicle--not the tire itself."

Crash course: this summer's road forecast: conditions could become deceptively dangerous

Men's Fitness, August, 2004 by Brian Good

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