Six risky moves to avoid on the road
Welcome to summer auto travel season. As we move into the dog days of summer we all crowd on highways and byways struggling to make it to the cottage, lake, or campground.
Here are some of the more popular sights you’ll see on the roads on any given summer weekend and why and how you should avoid them.
Airbag Roulette
We can’t conceive of anyone playing Russian roulette with a fully loaded firearm, but riding in a vehicle with your feet resting on the dash is just as risky. When collisions strong enough to deploy vehicle airbags occur, there is seldom enough warning to permit a resting passenger to move their feet before the explosion happens (yes, it’s an explosion).
When the front airbags come out at around 100 miles per hour, they have the velocity and force to do major damage to human tissue and bones. Summer highways are busy and loaded with vacationing travellers and commercial traffic often moving bumper-to-bumper. This substantially increases the risk of rear-end collisions which can set off airbags. Don’t ever let anyone rest their feet on an airbag-equipped dash.
Loose Loads
We often think of overloaded utility trailers being towed to the cottage or to a new residence as the major source of traffic risk because of unsecured loads, but boats and watercraft units can be just as risky.
Many drivers assume that the sheer weight of a boat motor and its gear is enough to keep the stern safely in contact with the trailer. But one sharp bump, especially when cornering, can be all it takes to cause the boat to shift off the trailer and onto the road. Whether you’re heading out on a cross-country trek or just around the corner, take the time to properly secure your load. Ropes and stretch cords are convenient, but adjustable ratchet-style straps
do a much better job.
Missing Trailer Spares
You’ll see this at least once every summer weekend: a trailer stranded on the side of the road with a flat tire and the tow vehicle nowhere in sight (most likely off to find a tire store open on a Sunday). Thousands of dollars of gear and property left unattended all for the lack of an $80 spare wheel and tire assembly. Whether you own the trailer or are simply borrowing one, make sure it has a proper spare tire and check the pressure before heading out. Don’t assume your vehicle’s jack will do the job on your trailer. Take the few minutes needed to pull it out and try it.
Speaking of Flats
If you haven’t experienced this already, you’ll find that tires inflate much faster and easier if there is no weight on them. Whether you’re using a hand-pump, battery-operated compressor, or aerosol-can inflator, use a jack to lift the wheel just off the ground and it will inflate much easier and quicker than trying to do it with the weight of the vehicle or trailer on it.
Overloaded with Gear
Another all-too-common sight on summer highways is a family vehicle lumbering down the highway, towing a trailer, with its rear bumper inches from the ground.
With lighter engine materials and cooling systems, overloading a modern vehicle can lead to some very expensive repair bills. And don’t assume that simply transferring gear from the vehicle to the trailer will help. The engine and transmission will still have to haul the load.
Check the load limits of your vehicle in its owner’s manual or on the information sticker found on the driver’s door frame and keep within those limits. If you do find yourself with an overheated vehicle, look for a safe place to park and let it cool down.
Running the cabin heater on high can help to bleed some of the excessive heat from the engine. Another tip to help keep your cool is to let your vehicle’s engine idle for a few minutes after a prolonged hot run before shutting it off. When you switch the engine off, you immediately shut down the cooling system. That’s why you hear that tinkle sound as you walk away from the vehicle; it’s the sound of engine metal expanding under the heat. It’s also why you’ll see the odd puddle of coolant underneath vehicles at a highway fuel/food stop.
Keep it Safe
When packing an SUV or minivan for a trip, consider that anything you stow in the cargo area can become lethal projectiles in a collision or rollover. If you’re towing a trailer, keep the heavier or harder items there and reserve the in-cabin cargo area for soft bags and such. Avoid blocking the rear-view mirror sightline by stacking things too high.
Enjoy your travel adventures this season, watch your speed, and keep an eye out for those sharing the road.