7 Essential Summer Driving Tips for Texas Roads

Texas summers aren’t just hot, they’re extreme. With temperatures regularly soaring past 100°F, drivers face a dangerous mix of blistering asphalt, heat-related vehicle stress, vacation traffic, and sudden thunderstorms. These conditions create a perfect storm for accidents, especially when combined with common driving distractions and fatigue. Many of these accidents are preventable with defensive driving strategies.

Defensive driving means anticipating other drivers’ mistakes, maintaining a safe speed, keeping an appropriate distance from other vehicles, and staying alert for possible risks. By adopting these preventative driving habits, you can significantly reduce your risk of becoming involved in a summer collision.

This guide provides seven practical strategies for safely navigating Texas roads during the summer months. Whether you’re planning a family vacation, commuting to work, or running errands in the heat, these defensive driving techniques will help protect you, your passengers, and others sharing the road.

1. Stay Alert and Avoid Distractions

Distractions are a top cause of crashes, particularly during summer travel when drivers are often unfamiliar with routes and are accompanied by restless passengers.

• 1 in 5 crashes involves driver distraction
• Texas law bans texting while driving, and many cities prohibit all handheld phone use.
• Depending on the offense and city ordinance, fines range from $25 to $200.

Common Distractions to Avoid:

Risk Level	Examples
High	Texting, using GPS while driving
Medium	Eating, adjusting the radio
Low	Talking to passengers, daydreaming

Defensive Actions:

• Set your route before driving.
• Use voice commands or hands-free devices.
• Take a break every 2 hours on long trips.
• Scan 12–15 seconds ahead to anticipate hazards.

Distraction behind the wheel becomes especially risky when combined with heavy vacation traffic and unfamiliar routes. Remember that summer driving often means sharing the road with more tourists unfamiliar with local traffic patterns, staying alert isn’t just about your safety, it’s about protecting everyone on Texas roads.

Driving Tip: Stay alert: Stay alive!

2. Maintain a Safe Following Distance

In Texas, during summer traffic, maintaining a proper following distance is your defense against accidents. This buffer zone becomes even more essential with sudden afternoon thunderstorms and shimmering heat haze affecting visibility. About 29% of annual traffic accidents are rear-end collisions, many preventable with proper spacing. Follow these guidelines to avoid rear-end collisions:

Use the “3-second rule”:

• Choose a landmark.
• When the car ahead passes it, count “one-Mississippi, two-Mississippi, three-Mississippi.”
• If you pass it before finishing, increase your following distance.

Increase to 5-6 seconds:

During rain, fog, or reduced visibility

On high-speed roads or when towing

Conditions	Recommended Following Distance
Dry and clear	3 seconds
Rain or poor weather	5–6 seconds
Night or heavy traffic	4–6 seconds

Driving Tip: Always expect the unexpected from other drivers, especially tourists unfamiliar with Texas roadways.

3. Adjust Speed to Summer Road Conditions

Summer driving isn’t just about how fast you can go. it’s about knowing when to slow down. Adjusting your speed to traffic, roadworks, and weather conditions, not just posted limits, is a necessary precaution. Texas summer brings increased roadwork, vacation traffic, and unpredictable weather patterns. When visibility decreases or roads are wet from sudden storms, reduce speed accordingly. For heavily congested areas or construction zones (abundant in summer), slow down well in advance.

Consider the following summer hazards:

• Sudden thunderstorms can make roads slick in seconds.
• Highway construction zones are more common during summer and have reduced speed limits.
• Heat haze can distort visibility.

Key Guidelines:

• Never exceed the posted limit in work zones, fines double in many areas.
• Reduce speed before curves or dips that can hide obstacles or standing water.
• Watch for slower-moving RVs, boats, or trailers in vacation traffic.

Adjusting your speed to road and weather conditions is a cornerstone of defensive driving.

Driving Tip: Slow down: Arrive safely.

4. Prepare Your Vehicle for the Heat

A well-maintained vehicle is your first line of defense against summer driving hazards. Texas heat puts enormous stress on vehicles, and a quick summer check-up can prevent costly and dangerous breakdowns.

Summer Vehicle Checklist:

Tire blowouts increase during summer due to expanded rubber and underinflation.

Driving Tip: Check your vehicle before heading off.

 

Component	What to Check
Tires	Pressure and tread depth (check monthly)
Battery	Heat can shorten lifespan
Cooling System	Coolant levels and radiator function
Wipers/Washer	Replace blades, top off washer fluid
AC System	Ensure efficient cooling
Brakes	Responsive, no grinding sounds

 

5. Buckle up and Stay Hydrated

Your personal preparation matters too. Always buckle up; seat belts reduce the risk of death by 45% and serious injury by 50%. Stay hydrated with plenty of water during summer travel to prevent heat-related fatigue that can impair your driving ability. Driver fatigue and heat exhaustion are real threats in extreme heat. Dehydration reduces alertness and reaction time.

Prevent Heat-Related Driving Impairment:

• Drink water before and during your drive.
• Avoid caffeine before long trips as it dehydrates.
• Wear breathable clothing and sunglasses to reduce glare.
• Plan morning or evening trips to avoid midday heat.

Remember to never leave children, pets, or elderly passengers in a parked vehicle, even for a minute. In Texas heat, car interiors can exceed 140°F in under 10 minutes.

Driving Tip: Click, Sip, Go!

6. Navigate Work Zones with Caution

Texas summer is construction season. Work zones are high-risk areas with abrupt lane changes, slow-moving equipment, and uneven pavement.

Defensive Driving in Work Zones:

• Obey flaggers and posted signs.
• Avoid sudden braking or lane changes.
• Expect reduced speed limits and enforcement cameras.
• Watch for workers, especially near traffic lanes.

Work zone crashes killed over 200 people in Texas in 2023 alone.

Driving Tip: Eyes on the road: Watch for flags and cones.

7. Watch for Pedestrians and Cyclists

More people are outdoors in summer, walking, running, biking, or sightseeing.

Stay Alert in Areas with High Foot Traffic:

• Downtowns and beaches
• College towns and tourist areas
• Residential neighborhoods

Driver Reminders:

Always yield at crosswalks.

• Give cyclists 3 feet of clearance (required by Texas law).
• Check blind spots before turning or opening car doors.
• Slow down when approaching intersections or parks.
• Signal your intentions well.

Texas sees more than 600 pedestrian fatalities annually, many of them preventable with cautious driving.

Driving Tip: Share the road: Waych for walkers and bikers.

Avoid risks: Take a Defensive Driving Course

Brush up on your driving skills and take a certified online defensive driving course that can help you:

• Learn safe driving strategies
• Dismiss a ticket
• Lower your insurance rates
• Refresh your knowledge of Texas laws
• Keep you and other road users safe

Driving Quest offers self-paced, mobile-friendly courses approved by the state of Texas. Available in English and Spanish, they’re a convenient way to become a safer, smarter driver.

Take charge of your safety. Enroll in a Driving Quest Defensive Driving course today and enjoy a smoother, smarter ride this summer.