The end of August is traditionally a period of mass returns from holidays, as well as an opportunity to talk about safety on the roads. The more so – as evidenced by police statistics – it is summer, not winter months that are full of traffic accidents. How to take care of a safe and stress free way home?
Data from the National Police Headquarters show that last year there were 32 760 road accidents on Polish roads, in which 2,831 people were killed and 39,466 injured. It would seem that the most sensitive period should be winter, meanwhile the statistics prove something else. It turns out that the months most abounding in accidents were June (3258 accidents), July (3244) and August (3226). For comparison, in November we had 2846 events, and in January – 1801. Up to 19 205 accidents occurred under good weather conditions, and 17,947 occurred on a straight stretch of road.
Here are a few steps to safely returning home.
- Take care of a working car
An unskilled car can cause accidents but also unpleasant events. It is better to reach the place safely than to stand on the side of the road and wait for help, therefore it is worth checking the car, check the level of brake and cooling fluids and engine oil before the trip, check the brake system, shock absorbers and suspension. Let’s also remember about efficient air conditioning (which will allow us to survive the heat) and the spare wheel.
An efficient car… it’s also his equipment, so a reflective vest, a warning triangle and a first-aid kit, which should include bandages, elastic bandage, sterile gas compresses, disinfectants, gloves, blanket made of thermal insulation foil. Let’s also remember about having a set of spare bulbs, not only for our safety on the road, but driving a vehicle with a burned-out light bulb, in a situation when we do not have a backup, it may end up taking the registration certificate by the police.
- Take your time
Among the main causes of accidents mentioned by the Police Headquarters is the lack of adaptation of speed to traffic conditions (3,536 accidents), failure to give priority to traffic (2030 events), priority to pedestrian crossing (1933), failure to keep a safe distance between vehicles (1747) and incorrect overtaking ( 967).
Every trip is worth planning, analyzing the exact route, checking where we can come across road work or changing traffic rules. It is good to leave earlier than planned, rather than leave the trip for the last moment. It is worth setting a rest place on the route, familiarizing with detours, but the most important thing is to have an alternate after many hours of travel, which will relieve us. If we are going abroad, it is worth checking the regulations in force, especially regarding speed limits. In most countries, we can drive up to 50km / h and 80-100km / h in undeveloped areas in built-up areas, depending on the country.
- Insure yourself
Gauthier calculates that the average cost of towing a car weighing about 1600kg is PLN 2.5 per kilometer, which means that towing from Italy to Czestochowa will cost us PLN 2670 or more, and tow from Prague to Warsaw is expenditure of PLN 1725
What to do to feel safe and not incur unnecessary costs? Before leaving, it is worth checking in which countries our OC policy work and verify whether our AC covers only the territory of Poland or also Europe. It’s good to think about extending the AC policy even if it is about theft and buying Assistance, although there are insurers who guarantee the basic package of Assistance together with civil liability insurance.
- Rest and hydrate the body
Police statistics show that as many as 28,359 accidents that took place in 2017 were caused by guiding people. Doctors and specialists alert us that during hot weather we lose fluids and with them valuable electrolytes, which adversely affects the condition of the body and concentration. We are tired, irritable, we would like to get home as soon as possible. In case of long routes it is good to do a few longer ones and a few shorter stops: stretch your legs, get some fresh air, do some simple exercises to oxygenate the body and improve circulation (specialists recommend a short stop every 2 hours). The hydration of the body is also important. In the summer you should drink 2 liters of water a day, and travel should not be an exception to this rule. It is worth to prepare fruit lemonade and not forget a good meal. Then each trip will be more pleasant.