Summertime usually means vacations and summer road trips, with more people driving, walking, and biking. Now is a good time to review these summer driving safety tips. A little planning and some safety checks might spare you from dealing with the consequences of a breakdown.

Air Conditioning

As the temperatures rise, your A/C works harder to keep your vehicle cool. Check A/C performance and cabin air filter before traveling. A lack of air conditioning on a hot summer day affects everyone, especially children and older adults sensitive to heat or in poor health.

Heatstroke

Heatstroke in vehicles happens when a child is left unattended in a parked vehicle or enters an unattended vehicle. Never leave children alone in the car. A child’s body temperature rises three to five times faster than an adult's. Even if it’s 60 degrees outside with the windows cracked, the temperature inside a vehicle can quickly reach deadly levels.

Visit NHTSA.gov/Heatstroke for more tips and reminders to prevent hot car deaths.

Belts and Hoses

As summer temperatures rise, rubber belts and hoses degrade. Look under the hood and inspect all belts and hoses for bulges, blisters, cracks, or cuts in the rubber. It’s best to replace them now if they show signs of obvious wear. Also, make sure all hose connections are secure.

Check for Recalls

NHTSA's Recalls Look-up Tool lets you enter your license plate or vehicle identification number (VIN) to quickly check if your vehicle has a critical safety issue and find steps for FREE repairs. Download NHTSA’s SaferCar app and enter your vehicle and equipment information to receive recall alerts on your phone.

Tires

Make sure each tire is filled to the vehicle manufacturer’s recommended inflation pressure. The inflation pressure is listed in your owner’s manual and on a placard located on the driver’s door pillar or door frame. Don’t forget to check your spare.  

Check tire pressure when “cold” (at least three hours after driving) for an accurate reading. Do not inflate your tires to the pressure listed on the tire itself — that number is the maximum pressure the tire can hold, not the recommended pressure for your vehicle. A tire doesn’t have to be punctured to lose air; all tires naturally lose some air over time. In fact, underinflation is the leading cause of tire failure.  

Some other tire safety tips:  

• Inspect tires often: Check your tires for damage (tread and sidewalls for any cuts, punctures, bulges, scrapes, cracks, or bumps) at least once a month and before long road trips. Make sure you have a spare tire and car jack kit.
• Address uneven wear: Look closely at your tread and replace tires that have uneven wear or insufficient tread.
• Monitor Tread Depth: Make sure your tread is at least 2/32 of an inch on all tires. Use the penny test to determine when it’s time to replace your tires:
  • Place a penny in the tread with Lincoln's head upside down.  
  • If you can see the top of Lincoln's head, your vehicle needs new tires.  
  • Uneven wear across the tires’ tread indicates your tires need rotation and/or your wheels need to be aligned.   
• Check the age: Some vehicle manufacturers recommend replacing tires every six years regardless of use.
• Electric Vehicles: Since electric vehicles are often heavier than gas-powered vehicles, they require EV-specific tires to support the weight, maximize performance and electric range, and reduce tire noise. Whether the vehicle is gas-powered, electric-powered, or a hybrid, all tires require similar maintenance. Low-rolling-resistance tires for conventional vehicles could also have lower tread life.  

If you find tire damage, take your vehicle to a tire professional.

Cooling System

Make sure your vehicle has enough coolant and meets the manufacturer’s specifications. Check your vehicle owner’s manual for specific recommendations. You or a mechanic should check the cooling system for leaks, test the coolant, and drain or replace old coolant as needed.

Fluid Levels

If you drive a conventional vehicle or a hybrid, be sure to check your vehicle’s oil level periodically. If it’s almost time for your oil change, do it before you travel. Also check the following fluid levels:  

• brake
• automatic transmission or clutch
• power steering (if hydraulic)
• windshield washer

Make sure each reservoir is full; if you see any signs of fluid leakage, take your vehicle in to be serviced. Even if you drive an electric vehicle, be sure to check applicable fluid levels.

Batteries

Have a mechanic check your battery and charging system for any necessary repairs or replacements. For hybrid-electric vehicles, keep gasoline in the tank to support the gasoline engine. 

Visit NHTSA’s Hybrid and Electric Vehicle guide for more information on high-voltage batteries.

Lights

Check your headlights, brake lights, turn signals, emergency flashers, and interior lights. Be sure to also check your trailer brake lights and turn signals, if necessary.

Wiper Blades

Windshield wiper blades may need to be replaced after the heavy toll from winter storms and spring rains. Like rubber belts and hoses, wiper blades are vulnerable to the summer heat. Inspect both sides of your blades for signs of wear and tear. The blades can also deform and fail to work properly in both directions. If they aren’t in top condition, buy new ones before you go.

Floor Mats

Check for improperly installed floor mats in your vehicle that may interfere with the accelerator or brake pedals, increasing the risk of a crash. Always use mats that are the correct size and fit for your vehicle. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for mat installation and use retention clips to secure the mats.

Stock Your Vehicle

Even a well-maintained vehicle can break down, so it’s recommended to put together an emergency roadside kit to carry with you. A cell phone tops the list of emergency kit contents since it allows you to call for help when and where you need it. Recommended emergency roadside kit contents include:

• Cell phone and charger
• First aid kit, including tourniquet
• Flashlight
• Flares and a white flag
• Jumper cables
• Tire pressure gauge
• Jack (and ground mat) for changing a tire
• Work gloves and a change of clothes
• Basic repair tools and some duct tape (for temporarily repairing a hose leak)
• Water and paper towels for cleaning up
• Nonperishable food, drinking water, and medicines
• Extra windshield washer fluid
• Maps
• Emergency blankets, towels and coats

Plan Your Route

Before heading out, check the weather, road conditions, and traffic. Don’t rush through your trip; allow plenty of time to get to your destination safely. Always review directions and maps before you go, even if you use a GPS, and let others know your route and ETA.

Seat Belts

Buckle Up. Every Trip. Every Time. Make sure everyone in your vehicle is buckled up in age- and size-appropriate car seats, booster seats, or seat belts.

Car Seats

• All children under age 13 should always ride correctly buckled in the back seat of the car.
• Car Seats and Booster Seats: Install car seats correctly so that all children riding with you are in the appropriate seat for their age and size. See NHTSA’s child passenger safety recommendations to find the right seat for your child’s age and size.
• Car Seat Inspection: Visit NHTSA’s Child Car Seat Inspection Station Locator to find a free car seat inspection station near you or to get information on virtual inspection options.
• Stop. Look. Lock. : Always remember to lock your vehicle and to keep your keys out of reach so children do not play or get trapped inside. Always check the back seat before exiting your car.

Backing Out/Parking

To prevent backovers, always walk around your vehicle to check for children running or playing before backing out of a driveway or parking spot. While backup cameras are helpful, they have limitations; kids, pets, and objects can still be in your path but out of the camera’s view. When children play, they are often oblivious to cars and trucks around them. Furthermore, every vehicle has a blind zone. However, large vehicles, trucks, SUVs, RVs, and vans have a larger “blind zone” and are more likely than cars to be involved in backovers.

Stay Alert

Keep your gas tank close to full whenever possible. For longer trips, plan enough time to stop to stretch, get something to eat, return calls or text messages, and change drivers or rest if you feel drowsy. Always look out for pedestrians and bicyclists.

Avoid Risky Behaviors

You know the rules: Do not text while driving or drive distracted; obey posted speed limits; and always drive sober. Both alcohol and drugs, whether legal or illicit, can impair skills critical to safe and responsible driving, such as coordination, judgment, perception, and reaction time. It is illegal to drive impaired by any substance in all states – no exceptions.

Driver Assistance Technologies

Driver assistance technologies not only help protect you and your passengers, but also other drivers and pedestrians around you. Some of these technologies are designed to warn you if you’re at risk of an impending crash, while others are designed to take action to avoid a crash. Make sure you understand your driver assistance technologies and how they work by reviewing the vehicle’s owner’s manual.

For more information on driver assistance technologies, visit NHTSA.gov/DriverTech.