Summer driving safety tips from the Indiana State Police

From the Indiana State Police:

With hot summer temperatures here and summer vacations coming up, the Indiana State Police would like to remind motorists of the following safety tips.

On hot days, the temperature inside vehicles can climb rapidly and may exceed 100 degrees. Be very careful with children and pets--even when you're at home and the car is parked.

• Never leave your child unattended in a vehicle, even with the windows down.
• Teach children not to play in, on, or around cars.
• Always lock car doors and trunks--even at home--and keep keys out of children's reach.
• Always make sure all child passengers have left the car when you reach your destination. Don't overlook sleeping infants.
• When securing your child in a safety restraint system in a car that has been parked in the heat, check to make sure seating surfaces and equipment (child safety seat and safety belt buckles) aren't too hot.
• Use a light covering to shade the seat of your parked car. Consider using shades on windows.

Proper vehicle maintenance in warm weather will allow you to make it to your destinations. Remember the following:

• Your cooling system should be completely flushed and refilled as recommended in your owner's manual. The level, condition, and concentration of the coolant should be checked periodically. (A 50/50 mix of anti-freeze and water is usually recommended.)
• If your car overheats - or if you are doing regular maintenance at home - never remove the radiator cap until the engine has thoroughly cooled.
• A professional should check the tightness and condition of drive belts, clamps, and hoses.

Tire care, while important throughout the year, is especially critical in warm weather because long trips, heavy loads, high speeds and higher temperatures all put additional stress on your tires.

• Check your tires regularlyto be sure there are no visible signs of wear or damage.
• Be sure your tires are properly inflated.Check your tire pressure often with a gauge, especially on long trips. Measure when the tires are cold, before you drive on them. You can find the recommended inflation pressure in your owner's manual, on a label frequently found in the glove box, near the door latch on the driver's side, or other locations on your vehicle. The recommended inflation pressure is not to be confused with the maximum inflation pressure shown on the side of the tire. At the recommended inflation pressure, tires will last longer and be less likely to fail, and the car will use less fuel. Serious injury can result from tire failure because of under inflation or overloading.
• Never overload your vehicle. Your car and tires are designed to operate safely only up to their load limits. These limits are shown in your owner's manual and on the certification plate on the edge of the driver's door.
• Make sure there is enough tread on the tireto operate safely, and make sure the tires are wearing normally. All grooves should be visible and deep enough to at least touch the top of Lincoln's head on a penny inserted head first in the tread. Low tread or bald tires are unsafe and need to be replaced.
• If some spots on the tire seem to be wearing faster than others, see your service station or mechanic. You could have misaligned wheels, worn shock absorbers, or other potential problems. Make sure your tires are aligned and balanced properly.
• Don't drive at a high rate of speed for a long time, particularly in hot weather. Obey posted speed limits. Lower speeds also mean better gas mileage.

(Sources: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, National Weather Service, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Federal Citizen Information Center, Washington State SAFE KIDS Coalition)

Also make sure you carry a roadside emergency kit to include:

• Water
• Food
• A Charged Cell Phone
• Flash Light
• Fire Extinguisher
• A First Aid Kit

As with any travels you are planning please let someone know your route of travel and itinerary. Following these tips will allow you and your family to have a fun and safe summer.

Speaking of traveling, we're having a hearty discussion about motorcycle safety on the News-Banner's Facebook page. To join in, look for the News-Banner fan page (the News-Banner page with the red newspaper box) and "like" us. Then, join in on the discussion.