Vacation Check: How to Travel Safely by Car
Author: Michael Vogel
Summer time is the time for vacation. A popular choice for the best time of the year still is the car. What you need to look out for to get to your destination safely.
People in Europe are still eager to travel. According to a survey published by the European Travel Commission (ETC) at the beginning of July, 75% are planning a vacation in the period from June to November. Almost half of all people surveyed have southern European travel destinations in mind. The top choices are Spain and Italy, followed by France and Greece. According to Eurostat, the EU's statistical authority, four out of five Europeans were traveling within their home country in 2022. Here, the car was the number one choice in 75 percent of cases, followed by rail at 15 percent.
Most people travel by plane or car
While intercontinental travelers almost inevitably arrive by plane, the picture is more differentiated for trips within continental Europe. According to Eurostat, air travel was the first choice for international travel in just under 47% of cases in 2022, followed by the car at 40%. So, cars and vacations still go hand in hand for Europeans - at least if the journey is not that long. To ensure that the drive doesn't turn into an ordeal and that you arrive safely at your destination, there are a few things that travelers should bear in mind. “It starts with planning the journey,” DEKRA accident researcher Markus Egelhaaf points out. “You shouldn't just type the destination into the sat nav as you would for a short trip, but look at the entire route in advance and think about alternative routes in case there are traffic jams.” Especially if you have children or a dog with you, this also makes it easier to identify suitable places to take a break.
“Unfortunately, people often underestimate how exhausting long journeys can be,” says Egelhaaf. “There is a reason why a maximum daily mileage of ten hours is set for commercial journeys. Breaks are extremely important for regeneration - in the fresh air, not sitting in the car.” A tight schedule can complicate things. “Traffic jams occur especially in the high season - and a pre-booked ferry can quickly cause stress if you haven't included a sufficient buffer,” says the accident researcher. Those who just speed through without a break are not only a safety risk for themselves, but also for others.
Here's how to reach your destination safely by car
Driving in the second half of the night should also be considered critically. “You can only do this if you are really well rested,” advises Egelhaaf. Many people also have a low point in the early afternoon, which can have a negative effect on their reaction times and alertness. “ As a rule, if you are tired, take a break immediately at the next opportunity and don't drive any longer because you might be there soon,” says Egelhaaf. A short nap is often enough to get you reasonably alert again. “Coffee and energy drinks, on the other hand, only keep you from falling asleep for a very short time.”
When driving abroad, it's also a good idea to familiarize yourself with the regulations on the maximum speed allowed in the country - along with other special features. “Some things that you are used to in your home country may have a slightly different meaning in your vacation destination, even though they basically look the same,” says the DEKRA researcher. Examples of this can be found in the country-specific rules on how to behave at crosswalks or how to signal at traffic circles.
Inspect the vehicle and secure the load before the journey
It should be a platitude that a vehicle needs to be in perfect technical condition before setting off on vacation. However, if it is fully packed and there may be four or five people in the car, different recommendations apply to tire pressure, for example. “You should check it regularly anyway and not just rely on the tire pressure monitoring systems,” advises Egelhaaf.
If you are going on vacation, the vehicle can quickly become overloaded. You should also keep an eye on that. “And of course the rule is that heavy objects should be at the bottom of the trunk and light ones at the top,” the DEKRA researcher adds. “Especially in a combi van or SUV, the load needs to be properly secured, preferably with luggage nets or lashing straps.” If the car is packed to capacity, it will drive differently, which is particularly noticeable in crosswinds, on bends and during braking. Egelhaaf has a simple recommendation against overloading: “Less is more, you don't have to bring everything with you on vacation.”
According to the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UN Tourism), the number of international tourist arrivals at airports reached 89% of its 2019 level again in the past year. For 2024, UN Tourism is even expecting international tourism to slightly exceed pre-pandemic levels. China reclaimed the top spot in international tourism expenditures for the first time in 2023 - after having held this position for many years before the pandemic. The USA followed, with Germany and the UK well behind. With 100 million international travelers, France once again was the most frequent destination for international tourists last year. Spain, the USA, Italy and Turkey followed in second to fifth place.