We have just been ushered into the summer months. This officially kickstarts the summer travel season.

The summer travel season comes loaded with a lot of fun and pleasant memories but that means more people on the road, more vehicles, more traffic jams, and greater road risks. Definitely, the busiest travel season.

In fact, AAA Travel projected more than 37.2 million Americans would travel 50 miles or more from home over the Memorial Day weekend, with 33 million of those travelers driving to their destinations. As we enter the summer travel season, these numbers are expected to rise, with more people hitting the road for vacation and family visits.

AAA President, Marshall Doney, gave the reason for this increase in holiday travelers this year. He said, “A strong employment market and low gas prices have driven consumer optimism to new highs and boosted Americans’ disposable income. This is welcome news for the travel industry.” As we approach the summer travel season, with Independence Day, popularly known as the Fourth of July, coming very soon, it’s important to prepare for it—not just by stocking up on firecrackers but by brushing up on our road etiquette. We will talk about the most common and annoying offenses to other road users.

Basic etiquette first

Do you remember to pull over for funeral processions? Or wave when someone does you a roadway kindness? Do you properly merge using the zipper technique? That is, staying out of other people’s blind spots (especially trucks, if you can’t see the driver’s face in the side mirror, he can’t see you either!).

With the summer travel season in full swing, it seems people have forgotten about the use of the lanes. Especially those who drive slowly in the left lane. Known as the “passing lane,” the left lane is meant to be used for passing other vehicles that are traveling more slowly than you. If you are driving at the speed of traffic or slower, you should remain in the right-hand lane. And if you’re in the left lane and see someone coming quickly up behind you, move to the right to get out of their way.

During the summer travel season, according to CJ Pony Parts, some of the most-ticketed driving infractions include exceeding the speed limit and (knowingly or unknowingly) running a red light, as well as having mechanical issues that make your vehicle a danger to yourself or others. Speeding tickets alone exceeded 40 million in 2014, which resulted in more than $6 billion in paid fines. In terms of misdemeanor tickets served, the most common are for driving infractions like hit-and-run accidents, excessive speeding, and texting while driving.

Practice good driving etiquette and safe driving techniques, and your summer travels will be safer and ticket-free. Or wait, there are just too many rules to remember. How about when you travel to a new city during the summer travel season, your transportation is handled by someone else? A trained driver from a reputable transport company with years of experience in satisfying their clients? If you find yourself in New York this summer, avoid the hassle of New York traffic and ride comfortably with the car service we provide at Fast Break Limo. We offer black car service, airport transportation, and limousine services. Call us now or make a reservation online.