The Weekend Sun is running a series of eight ‘Summer Smart’ stories with our good friend Elfie the Circus Elf helping us to keep safe and healthy these holidays. Today’s Summer Smart #8 is about traffic safety.

Summer in the Bay of Plenty means more visitors, more cars on the road and often more stress behind the wheel. But the season’s fun shouldn’t come with unnecessary risk, especially when many accidents happen because drivers aren’t prepared.

Here’s how to keep your summer journeys safe, sane and smooth.

Plan ahead and rest often. Traffic congestion is normal on popular routes such as State Highway 2 towards Tauranga, especially on weekends and public holidays.

Plan trips outside peak times, if possible. Have you considered packing the night before so you can leave early the next day?

Get enough sleep before driving and take breaks every two hours. Rest stops or shaded picnic spots are great places to stretch legs and hydrate.

Don’t drive tired because drowsy driving is as dangerous as drink-driving. Signs you’re too tired to drive include frequent yawning or blinking, difficulty focusing, drifting between lanes and feeling restless or irritable.

If you feel tired, pull over safely and rest – even a short nap can save your life. Just remember to switch off your headlights and ensure you’re not parked in a low cellphone coverage area in case you leave your headlights on while snoozing and run your battery flat.

Beware of sunstrike and glare when driving. Driving into the low sun can temporarily blind you, so use your sun visor and polarised sunglasses. Keep the windscreen clean inside and out to reduce glare and adjust speed and distance from the car in front to give more reaction time.

Footwear also matters when you’re driving, so never drive in jandals or barefoot as these reduce pedal control.

Remember to be prepared and carry a spare tyre, jack and basic engine tools. Ensure your phone is charged, know how to contact roadside assistance, and take water and snacks in case of delays.

Tauranga police and NZTA report higher crash rates on summer weekends between 2pm and 6pm so plan your travel accordingly. A good idea is to rest before you’re tired and don’t push through fatigue.

Stay alert, take your time and enjoy the drive – your summer depends on it.

*The Weekend Sun gives special thanks to Circus in a Flash Ltd – We bring the Circus to you for bringing this series to life.