Travelers Insurance and Mercury Insurance provide these tips to keep you safe for your next road trip.

Prepared drivers can prevent most minor vehicle problems by doing some maintenance before leaving. Here are some tips to make sure your car is ready.

• Check your lights and battery.
• Inspect and rotate your tires and make sure tire pressure is correct.
• Get an oil change and check fluid levels.
• Test your air conditioner.
• Remember your phone charger.
• Does your air filter need to be changed?
• Check your brakes and wiper blades.
• Have an emergency kit that includes jumper cables, a quart of motor oil, a gallon of coolant, a first aid kit, blankets, a flashlight and basic tools like a screwdriver, pliers and an adjustable wrench.

A concerning safety fact is that, on average, drivers are distracted for almost 15 minutes of every hour of road time during the summer. Here are recommendations to stay focused and safe:

• Stow your phone.
• Know your route.
• Create zones for kids and pets.
• Avoid calling or texting while driving.
• Model good, attentive driving behaviors.
• Do not multitask like eating, grooming, calling and texting.
• Tune up your car before heading out.
• Pack safe by keeping a clear line of sight.

Another safety fact is that rear-end collisions are the most common accidents between vehicles. Here are some good rules of the road to follow to avoid accidents:

• Follow the three-second rule, which is to increase the distance between you and the car ahead of you so that you have more time to recognize a hazard and respond safely. The National Safety Council recommends a minimum three-second following distance.
• When road and weather conditions are not ideal, slow down and increase your following distance even more.
• Always avoid distractions while driving, like texting, reaching for a drink or glancing at a navigation device.

Watch out! Here are four common driving hazards to be aware of:

• Slow down; construction brings increased traffic.
• Be alert; motorcycles are on the move.
• Look for cyclists when making turns and give them space.
• Watch for pedestrians at night, in crosswalks, who may be distracted while walking.