Years ago a safety campaign used the slogan, "Bring 'em back alive", especially in the summertime when many families hit the road for their summer vacation trips.
Maybe it's time to revive the slogan, but also provide more and better information about what the dangers are to the motoring public, as they head out, taking advantage of beautiful summer weather to travel.
It doesn't really matter why people are travelling, whether it's to just to have a change of scenery by seeing another part of Canada, or to visit family or friends who live a distance away. All of these sorts of journeys are enjoyable ones, or should be, particularly as the destinations often hold such enjoyment for the travellers, and for those they are visiting.
What can often happen in a tightly-packed vehicle crammed full of family and food and suitcases and sleeping bags, the noise and distraction can get to the driver after a while and they don't pay attention to the traffic and the highway the way they should, and sometimes this can lead to a tragic accident.
The highways are busier in the summer than most any other time of year, so with the higher level of traffic, nerves are frazzled, drivers are frustrated and tired, the wildlife is out and about more often, and the normal hazards of highway driving are magnified by the combination of all these conditions, not to mention the desire of some to push it so they can reach their destination sooner.
As you set out with the family or with friends to enjoy your hard-earned (and highly-anticipated) vacation time, remember the old slogan to bring them all back home again, safe, alive and rested from a good time.
This may take a conscious effort on the part of everyone to not rush the journey, but to enjoy it, first so they can all arrive at the destination relaxed and ready to enjoy the vacation, and second to be safe on the road, and not pose a hazard to other travelers equally anxious to be on their way as well.
Often people get back from a vacation saying they need a "vacation for the vacation"; most times it is because people are rushing and anxious, pushing themselves to make the trip fast. Instead, just enjoy the trip, stay safe, have a good summer, and don't forget to "bring 'em back alive".
