skip to main content
Travelers Home Page
  • About Travelers
  • Careers
  • For Agents
  • For Investors

Problems logging in?   |   Register now

  • For Individuals
    • Overview
    • Products
      • Car
      • Home
      • Renters
      • Condo
      • Landlord
      • Boat & Yacht
      • Weddings
      • Umbrella
      • All Products
    • Tools & Resources
      • Insurance 101
      • Home Central
      • Travelers Garage
    • Affinity Group Discount
    • Online Service
      • Get a Quote
      • Find an Agent
      • Report a Claim
      • Pay Your Bill
  • For Business
    • Overview
    • Products & Solutions
      • Overview
      • Boiler & Machinery
      • Commercial Auto & Trucking
      • Cyber
      • Environmental Liability
      • Excess Casualty & Umbrella
      • General Liability
      • Global Insurance
      • Inland Marine
      • Management & Professional Liability
      • National Programs
      • Ocean Marine
      • Property
      • Small Business Owner's Policy
      • Surety Bonds
      • Workers Compensation
        • Find an Agent
        • Report a Claim
        • Pay Your Bill
    • Industries
      • Overview
      • Agribusiness
      • Architects, Engineers & Surveyors
      • Auto & Truck Dealers
      • Business Services
      • Construction
      • Education
      • Energy & Renewable
      • Equipment Dealers
      • Financial Institutions
      • Food Services
      • Health & Related Services
      • Hospitality & Recreation
      • Manufacturing
      • Marine Industries
      • Museums & Fine Art
      • Non-Profit
      • Oil & Gas
      • Public Entities
      • Real Estate
      • Retail
      • Technology
      • Transportation
      • Wholesale & Distribution
        • Find an Agent
        • Report a Claim
        • Pay Your Bill
    • Services
      • Overview
      • Risk Control
      • Claim
      • Premium Audit
      • Online Customer Tools
      • Risk Management Information Services
      • Travelers Client Advantage
        • Find an Agent
        • Report a Claim
        • Pay Your Bill
    • Small Business
      • Overview
      • Automobile Insurance
      • Business Owner's Policy
      • Data Breach
      • Employment Practices Liability
      • Professional Insurance
      • Umbrella Insurance
      • Workers Compensation Inurance
        • Find an Agent
        • Report a Claim
        • Pay Your Bill
    • Large Business
      • Overview
      • Casualty
      • Cyber
      • Management & Professional Liability
      • Property
        • Find an Agent
        • Report a Claim
        • Pay Your Bill
    • Multinational Business
    • Insights & Expertise
      • By Topic
      • By Industry
        • Find an Agent
        • Report a Claim
        • Pay Your Bill
      • Find an Agent
      • Report a Claim
      • Pay Your Bill
  • Claim Center
    • Overview
    • Claim Services
      • Report a Claim
      • Should I File a Claim
      • Roadside Assistance
      • Auto Glass & Windshield Repairs
      • Check Claim Status
      • Upload Your Files
      • Find Claim Service Providers
    • Claim Support
      • Individuals
      • Business
      • Customer Stories
    • Report Fraud
    • Catastrophe
      • Get a Quote
      • Find an Agent
      • Report a Claim
      • Pay Your Bill
  • Prepare & Prevent
    • Overview
    • Individuals
      • For Households
      • For Drivers
      • Boating
      • Identity Theft
      • More
    • Business
      • Business Continuity
      • Cyber Security
      • Supply Chain Management
      • Workplace Safety
      • More
    • Weather
      • Emergency Preparedness
      • Hurricanes
      • Thunderstorms
      • Winter Storms
      • More
      • Get a Quote
      • Find an Agent
      • Report a Claim
      • Pay Your Bill
  • About Travelers
    • Overview
      • Awards & Recognition
      • Careers
      • Community
      • Diversity & Inclusion
      • Environment, Social & Governance Practices
      • History
      • Investors
      • Media Resources
      • News
      • Travelers Championship
      • Travelers Institute
      • Get a Quote
      • Find an Agent
      • Report a Claim
      • Pay Your Bill
  • Contact Us
    • Get a Quote
    • Find an Agent
    • Report a Claim
    • Pay Your Bill

Main Navigation

  • For Individuals

      • Insurance for Individuals

      • Products

        • Car
        • Home
        • Renters
        • Condo
        • Landlord
        • Boat & Yacht
        • Weddings & Events
        • Umbrella
        • More
      • Tools & Resources

        • Insurance 101
        • Home Central
        • Travelers Garage
      • Affinity Group Discount

      • Online Service

    • family sitting in car

      It’s easy to get a free quote for auto insurance from Travelers in just a few minutes.

      Get an auto quote now
  • For Business

      • Products & Solutions

        • Commercial Auto & Trucking
        • Cyber
        • General Liability
        • Management & Professional Liability
        • Property
        • Small Business Owner's Policy
        • Surety Bonds
        • Workers Compensation
        • More
      • Industries

        • Construction
        • Energy & Renewable
        • Financial Institutions
        • Healthcare
        • Manufacturing
        • Real Estate
        • Technology
        • Transportation
        • More
      • Insights & Expertise

      • Services

        • Risk Control
        • Claim
        • Premium Audit
        • More
      • Pay Your Bill

      • Small Business

      • Large Business

      • Multinational Business

      • For Business Overview

    • Extreme Weather and Your Business

      Extreme Weather and Your Business [Video]

      Disaster events can affect any business, and getting back up and running may take longer than one may think. Learn what Travelers is doing to help.

      Watch the video
  • Claim Center

      • Report a Claim

      • Should I File a Claim?

      • Roadside Assistance

      • Auto Glass & Windshield Repairs

      • Check Claim Status

      • Upload a File

      • Find Claim Service Providers

        • Auto Repair Shops
        • Emergency Property Services
        • Medical Providers
      • Support for Individuals

        • Auto Support
        • Home & Condo Support
        • Renters Support
        • Boat & Yacht Support
        • Umbrella Support
      • Support for Business

        • Auto Support
        • Property Support
        • Workers Comp Support
        • General Liability Support
        • More
      • Catastrophe Response

      • Customer Stories

      • Report Fraud

      • About Travelers Claim

    • Travelers Claim professional

      Travelers offers a network of specialized services.

      Find claim services
  • Prepare & Prevent

      • Featured

      • Individuals

        • For Households

          • Fire Safety
          • Home Maintenance
          • Home Safety
          • Smart Home
        • For Drivers

          • Distracted Driving
          • Safe Driving
          • Teen Driving
          • Traveling
        • Boating
        • Risk Index
        • Identity Theft
      • Business

        • Business Continuity
        • Risk Index
        • Cyber Security
        • Driver and Fleet Safety
        • Facilities Management
        • Product and Service Liability
        • Supply Chain Management
        • Workplace Safety
      • Industries

        • Construction
        • Manufacturing
        • Small Business
        • Technology
      • Weather

        • Earthquakes
        • Emergency Preparedness
        • Hurricanes
        • Thunderstorms
        • Tornadoes
        • Weather Alerts
        • Winter Storms
    • ice dam hanging off roof

      How to Identify and Help Remove an Ice Dam [Video]

      Understanding how an ice dam forms and how to remove one promptly can help prevent serious damage.

      Learn more
  • Contact Us

  • Featured
  • Individuals
  • Business
  • Weather
  • Home
  • Prepare & Prevent
  • Business
  • Driver & Fleet Safety
  • 4 Summer Driving Hazards to Be Aware Of

4 Summer Driving Hazards to Be Aware Of

Cars driving through a work zone Cars driving through a work zone

While the winter season is often associated with risky driving conditions, summer has its own risks. From road construction to out-of-town recreational drivers pulling boats and campers, summertime hazards require drivers to be extra alert and share the road.

Vehicle accidents kill more American workers than any type of workplace accident1; in 2014, 35 percent of workplace injuries involved a motor vehicle.2 Since drivers cause more than 90 percent of vehicle crashes3, make sure they are aware of these summer hazards and know how to share the road safely.

Hazard No. 1: Summer Construction Brings Increased Traffic

“The increased traffic on our roads is an unmistakable hazard of summer driving,” says Daniel Brown, a Travelers Risk Control transportation safety professional. Estimates predict a new record high for vehicle miles traveled in 2016, likely due to low fuel prices and economic activity. This has already led to a 9.3 percent increase in roadway deaths during the first nine months of 2015, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Traffic delays and detours caused by road construction can make traffic snarls worse. It is important for drivers to be patient and alert, and to share the road.

To ensure the highest safety in work zones, drivers should:

  • Either avoid known work zones or anticipate the delay and allow extra time.
  • Find an alternate route or adjust their work schedule to avoid hazards or delays.
  • Follow signs and, if lanes are being closed, merge early before entering the work zone.
  • Expect the unexpected: slow down, increase their following distance and avoid distractions.

Hazard No. 2: Motorcycles on the Move

As the number of motorcycles on the road increases, so does the opportunity for motorcycle crashes. There are more motorcycles on the road now than a decade ago, with the number of registered motorcycles increasing 45 percent between 2004 and 2013, and the number of motorcyclists more than doubling.4 Make sure everyone in your organization understands the unique hazards that motorcycles present, including the risk of accidents caused by a vehicle turning left in front of a motorcycle.

Drivers should consider the following when sharing the road with motorcycles:

  • Be extra aware: Motorcycles can be difficult to see and can disappear in your blind spot. Also, it can be easy to misjudge a motorcycle’s speed.
  • Look twice to make sure a motorcycle is a safe distance from your vehicle.
  • Follow motorcycles at greater distances, as motorcycles can stop more quickly than automobiles.

Because of the extra dangers motorcycle riding can present, consider a policy that prohibits employees from using motorcycles for business travel.

Hazard No. 3: Bicyclists Can Be Hard to Predict

Like motorcycles, bicycles can be difficult to see, and they can be even more vulnerable in a crash. The majority of cyclists who are injured or killed are adults, with 70 percent of those fatalities occurring in urban environments.5 Bicycle rider intentions can be hard to predict if they do not follow traffic rules or use hand signals.

To keep bicyclists safe:

  • Understand the local rules. Laws in most states give bicycle riders the same rights as vehicle operators.
  • Give bicycles space—respect their rights to use the road.
  • Look for bicycle riders, especially when opening your door and making right turns at intersections. Look over your shoulder to ensure the way is clear.
  • Treat bicycles the same as slow-moving vehicles. Give cyclists 3 feet of clearance when passing. When following a cyclist, give them plenty of space should they change direction or stop.

Hazard No. 4: Distracted Pedestrians

Extra daylight and warmer temperatures bring people outside and onto roadways. Distracted walking by people focused on their mobile devices only heightens the dangers of the most vulnerable people on the road: pedestrians.

To ensure the safety of pedestrians, drivers should:

  • Watch out for pedestrians at night, especially in urban areas.
  • Stop for pedestrians in crosswalks and never pass a vehicle stopped at a crosswalk—pedestrians could be crossing the road.
  • Look for pedestrians more than once before turning.
  • Watch for pedestrians who might be distracted while walking, as distracted walking has been a factor in some incidents.

There are other types of summertime driving risks to consider as well, such as recreational drivers who are unfamiliar with local roads and young drivers who may lack experience behind the wheel. In addition, summer vacationers may be driving overloaded vehicles with obstructed windows, and drivers may be sleep-deprived from longer days and activities that stretch into the night.

What’s more, summer weather, including heavy wind, rain and fog, can also rival the challenges posed during a winter storm. Help drivers prepare for these and other summertime hazards. Let employees know that getting there safely—and back home again—is their most important responsibility on the road.

Sources:
1 2014 Fatal Occupational Injuries by Major Event, Bureau of Labor Statistics.
2 U.S. Department of Labor, 2015.
3 National Safety Council Injury Facts 2015.
4 
http://www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/Pubs/812148.pdf
5 NHTSA Traffic Safety Facts, May 2015.
Top Stories
Person clicking in seat belt

Creating a Formal Fleet Seat Belt Policy

Mandating seat belt use can help protect your drivers, your vehicles and your business.

  • Learn more

Related Links

  • Encouraging Driver Health & Wellness for Businesses
  • Keeping Drivers Safe in Dangerous Conditions
  • Tips for Selecting Safe Drivers for Your Business

Talk to an Agent

Find an agent near you to discuss your specific coverage needs.

  • Start now

Fleet Safety

See All Driver & Fleet Safety Content

See All Business Content


Travelers logo

© 2019 The Travelers Indemnity Company. All rights reserved.

  • Travelers on Facebook
  • Travelers on YouTube
  • Travelers on Twitter
  • Travelers on LinkedIn
Products & Services
  • For Individuals
  • For Businesses
  • Claim Services
  • Prepare & Prevent
Our Company
  • About Travelers
  • Careers
  • Investors
Connect
  • Customer Support
  • MyTravelers®
  • For Agents
Legal & Compliance
  • Terms of Service
  • Privacy & Security
  • Accessibility
  • Producer Compensation Disclosure