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There may not be snow, but summer driving has its own hazards

Now that Memorial Day is in the rear-view mirror, many folks are beginning to think about hitting the highway for a summer road trip.

And unlike in the winter, when the omnipresent threat of a major snowstorm can hamper any plans for long-range travel, most summertime itineraries can be made without fear of weather making roads impassable.

But that doesn’t mean summer driving is without its challenges.

Now that students are on summer vacation, more teens are bound to be on the road for longer stretches of time. As we all know, teen drivers are inexperienced drivers, and are, therefore, more likely to make a mistake behind the wheel.

Because summer is a time many of us plan to take a trip somewhere, there are usually more cars on the road. The more vehicles encountered, the more likely it is that someone will make a mistake and cause a crash.

And what Pennsylvania summer road trip would be complete without seeing those all-too-familiar orange cones, barrels and signs in road construction zones? No matter how many reduced-speed limit signs are posted and how narrow the passable lane(s) may be, there always seems to be that one person who thinks the rules don’t apply to him or her and speeds through the orange maze like it’s not even there.

Recent data from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety even shows that the summer months (June through September) often have some of the greatest numbers of fatal vehicle crashes in the U.S.

Now, we didn’t publish this to deter you from making your annual summer trek to wherever it is you’re going. We just hope you keep the right state of mind when traveling there, especially if you happen to be the one behind the wheel.

Sure, summer is a time for rest and relaxation while on vacation. But do us a favor and don’t start the vacation until you have arrived at your location with you, the members of your traveling party and your vehicle all in one piece.

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