Summer travel in the rain not easy, use headlights, passengers to help, says AAA Kansas

As the summer travel season is now underway with the kids out of school in most of Kansas, it’s important to keep your attention on the road and not on your phone.

“Cell phone use while driving is a big issue right now,” said Shawn Steward with AAA Kansas. “We have a campaign called ‘Don’t Drive Intoxicated – Don’t Drive Intexticated’. We’re trying to point out that using your phone while driving can be just as impairing, just as dangerous and deadly as drinking and driving.”

Now that you have the kids in the car, give them the communication responsibility, if they’re old enough, while you drive.

“If you need to use your phone to check maps or text a relative that you’re on your way, pull over,” said Steward. “Maybe even have a passenger in your vehicle do that for you.”

It’s important to make yourself as visible as you can.

“With the rain, a lot of people don’t seem to follow this, but, if your windshield wipers are on, your headlights need to be on, as well, so you can see and be seen by other drivers,” said Steward. “Make sure that it’s your actual full headlights that are on, not just the automatic daytime running lights that some cars have.”

Having just the DRLs on doesn’t light up some cars rear lights, which can make them harder to see in the rain.