Attention all road warriors: a little patience will go a long week this upcoming Labor Day Weekend. According to AAA, we should expect that:

“34.7 million Americans will journey 50 miles or more from home during the Labor Day holiday weekend, the highest volume for the holiday since 2008 and a 1.3 percent increase over 2013. Nearly 86 percent of travelers (29.7 million) will celebrate the holiday with a final road trip before summer comes to a close and children head back to school.”

The National Safety Council offers some good rules for the road to follow if you are planning that final weekend of summer getaway and you encounter some of this congested traffic:

• Establish and enforce a distraction-free zone, especially in cars equipped with electronic devices including cell phones, global positioning systems and other in-vehicle technology
• Make sure all passengers are buckled up and children are in safety seats appropriate for their age and size
• Allow plenty of travel time to avoid frustration and diminish the impulse to speed
• Drive defensively and exercise caution, especially during inclement weather
• Designate a non-drinking driver or plan for alternative transportation, such as a taxi

Road construction season isn’t quite over yet either, so continue to keep an eye out for roadwork-related driving hazards as well.

You know we love the smart driving around here. We’ve mentioned some of our professional driver courses in previous blogs, so today I want to focus on two Summit courses that can benefit all drivers:

Street Smart: Driving Skills

This program drives home the importance of safe choices on the road and teaches skills and techniques that enable you to recognize and reduce hazards. Street Smart: Driving Skills cover:

• Why safe driving is important to you

• Your responsibility for safe driving

• Driving skills to reduce risk exposure

Road Rage

This program focuses on:

• Effective advice to avoid getting involved with an aggressive driver

• What to do if you are the victim of aggressive driving

• The importance of avoiding aggressive driving yourself

Wishing you and your travel companions a safe, rage-free driving adventure. Stay safe out there and enjoy the long weekend!