Spring break is here. It is the time of year where thousands of college students head south for warmer weather and warm beaches. It is also a time when a lot of these students will be going to spring break parties and engaging in some potentially dangerous activities, especially when the use of a vehicle is involved. Here are several safety tips for spring breakers as it relates to driving and travel. 1. Night driving: Try to avoid driving at night. Driving at night has its own set of dangers. One of them is fatigue. People who drive at night are more tired. Also, it is harder to see than during the day. Because it is harder to see, reaction time gets slower. Half of the fatal car crashes occur at night even though far fewer miles are driven at night. So, if you are thinking of leaving for break at night so you can get to your destination by morning and have a full day of fun, think again. If you must drive at night, take frequent breaks or drive with friends and take turns driving. Drive slower and stay farther back from cars that are ahead of you. If you feel drowsy, take a break and walk around and drink something with caffeine. If you are tired, stop and get a hotel for the night. 2. Seatbelts: Wear your seatbelt every time you get into the car. At this point, it should just be a natural action to put your seatbelt on before you start driving. The number and severity of injuries and deaths prevented by people using their seatbelt every time they get in a car is incalculable. Many vehicle related deaths are caused by people being ejected from their vehicles during accidents. This will be avoided if you are wearing your seatbelt. 3. Reclining seats: Driving with reclining seats has many dangers associated with it. First, if you are driving with a reclined seat, then your seatbelt becomes less effective. More space between the seat belt and your body increases the risk of death or serious injury during a collision because your body either slams against the seat belt or “submarines” and slides underneath the seatbelt. Second, with reclined seats, you are more likely to become tired and fall asleep while driving. Having the seat back in the proper position will increase alertness and make you a safer driver. 4. Deflated tires: Having safe tires, properly inflated is one of the more overlooked issues that drivers fail to check. The age of the tire and the tread depth is very important. Also important is whether the tire is inflated to the set amount recommended by the manufacturer of the tire. Under-inflated tires create more rolling resistance, leading to lower gas-mileage and creating excess heat that can lead to catastrophic tire failure, including a blow out or tread separation. 5. Distracted driving: Distracted driving has become an epidemic on the roads and highways of the United States. People who are looking at their smartphones and texting or being on social media are causing hundreds of accidents each day in the United States. In every state texting while driving has been made illegal. Every year, almost half a million people in the United States are injured or killed in traffic accidents attributed to texting and driving. The lawyers at MP2 Placidi & Parini have been selected as Top 10 Attorney for Client Satisfaction by the American Institute of Personal Injury Attorneys awarded to attorneys demonstrating exceptional and outstanding client service. The lawyers have been selected by Super Lawyers on several occasions and are rated as 10 out of 10 by AVVO, an independent lawyer rating service. If you have been injured in a car or truck accident at the fault of someone else, there really is no downside to contact us, even if you are not sure you have viable case. If you have questions, we have answers. And it will not cost you a thing to get your questions answered. The initial consultation is free. We will take a long as it takes to help you determine if you have the right to file a lawsuit to compensate you for your injuries. Call us at (814) 452-2222.