Driving Safety Tips for Your California Road Trip
Whether you’re sunning yourself on cliff-lined beaches, exploring redwood forests, or seeing the stars in Hollywood, a road trip in California is a fantastic way to spend your time. With so many world-class attractions and stunning natural vistas, it’s not surprising that more than 200 million people visit The Golden State each year.
Of course, you’ll want your vacation to be memorable for all the right reasons, so be sure to use these top driving safety tips when you set off on your California road trip:
1. Plan Your Route
A mystery road trip may sound exciting, but it can soon turn into a nightmare. By planning your route in advance, you can choose the safest driving routes and identify locations that are appropriate for stopovers. What’s more – planning your route in advance means you won’t miss out on any of the top sights.
2. Know the Rules of the Road
Regulations often vary from state to state, so it’s worth brushing up on your knowledge before you embark on a road trip. Everyone in a vehicle is required to wear a seatbelt in California, for example, and multilane freeways typically have a speed limit of 65mph, while two-lane highways are generally restricted to 55mph.
3. Beware of Mountain Roads
Traveling on mountain roads will give you the opportunity to see some spectacular scenery, but driving in this environment can be unnerving at first. Remember – if you meet a vehicle on a steep, narrow road and there isn’t room for you both to pass, it’s the vehicle that’s traveling uphill that has the right of way.
4. Don’t Use Your Cell Phone While Driving
Making or taking a call when you’re behind the wheel is illegal in California unless you’re using a hands-free system. Similarly, using your phone to send, write or read text messages is a criminal offense. Distracted driving is a major cause of accidents, so don’t take the risk of using your phone when you’re in control of a vehicle.
5. Know How to Access Help in Case of an Emergency
Careful planning can help to ensure your road trip goes smoothly but accidents can happen at any time. The latest statistics from the California Highway Patrol report 269,031 people being injured due to crashes in a single year, so it’s worth being prepared for an unexpected accident on your road trip.
As well as calling 911 to access urgent medical help, it’s worth carrying contact information for roadside assistance services too. Similarly, traveling with your insurance company’s contact information and details of car accident lawyers will ensure you can access immediate advice after a car accident. With help from Mission Personal Injury Lawyers, for example, you can protect your liability in the event of an accident and claim compensation for the harm you’ve sustained.
Planning Your Road Trip
While no one wants to consider the things that can go wrong when they’re planning a trip, it’s worth considering all possibilities so that you’re fully prepared. By doing so, you can mitigate the risks, make the most of your road trip, and enjoy the unforgettable sights and attractions California has to offer.
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