Guest Post by Beth Feldman
While traversing the highways of the northeast, I’ve found that while I love being a passenger during road trips, hopping into the driver’s seat is a totally different story. Don’t get me wrong – I love driving. In fact, for the See Mom Run book launch tour, I even have had the chance to test drive Volkswagen cars during our adventure.* So far, in the past month, I’ve hopped into the Volkswagen Routan and cruised the highways and side streets of NYC, Philadelphia, Ridgewood and Larchmont, New York. And next week, while I’m visiting Los Angeles, I’ll be giving the Toureg a whirl. Plus, during the Boston leg of our journey, I hit the road in my very own VW Tiguan – a sporty SUV with a sunroof that spans the entire length of the car and has two of my favorite must-have items in any automobile – a GPS system and Sirius XM radio…gotta love 80s on 8!
Along my journey, I’ve enjoyed the fall foliage in New England and have even tolerated driving through New Jersey while making my way to Philadelphia (don’t get me started on those confusing Jersey traffic signs). What I have also discovered is that there are a lot of reckless drivers on the road. During several long drives, I was constantly on high alert – contending with speeding truck drivers, people who were chatting on their cellphones and others who flicked cigarettes outside their windows. And don’t even get me started on the bad weather and the awful driving that ensues the minute a few raindrops start pelting the pavement!
But rather than launch into the numerous pet peeves I’ve encountered on the road, what I’d like to offer is advice on how to arrive at your road trip destination safe and sound!
1. Let trucks pass. If you see a truck racing along as you’re attempting to merge onto the highway, let it pass you by. I learned that the hard way after a large truck came barreling along behind me with no intention of stopping. In my situation, I attempted to speed up and no matter how hard I pressed on the accelerator, I could see the truck inching closer and closer in my rear view mirror. In the end, he literally ran my car out of the lane and pushed me into the shoulder after speeding past carrying nearly one dozen new cars in its wake. In my head, I kept thinking about something I had read in The Bottom Line newsletter – it takes the length of two football fields for a truck to stop dead in its tracks. Better to let a truck pass than to attempt a merge that could lead to disastrous results.
2. Take a break in bad weather. If you find that you’re having trouble seeing the road while driving during inclement weather, then turn on your hazard lights and exit the highway as quickly as possible. It’s better to wait out a storm then to take a chance while driving during poor weather conditions.
3. If you are a smoker, put your cigarette out in the car! I can’t tell you how many times I’ve seen drivers fling their lit cigarettes out their windows and the contents always seem to land directly under my car. While my tailpipe hasn’t sucked up a fiery cigarette, I always have visions that one day, I won’t be that lucky. If you smoke, dispose of your trash in your car and not on the highway!
4. Avoid cell phone users and texters at all costs. If you notice someone in your lane holding a cell phone up to their ear, then change lanes immediately. The same holds true for texters – which is much harder to detect. Always be on the defensive and avoid distracted drivers! And most important – do not be one of those drivers. You may think you can drive a car text at the same time, but unless the message has something to do with national security, put the phone down until you park the car!
5. Bring along a co-pilot. If you are traveling longer than two hours, attempt to carpool with someone who can help you navigate unfamiliar territory. If you are unable to secure a travel partner, then make sure your car is equipped with a GPS system which includes turn by turn directions. Another great resource is Google Maps – I’ve found it much more effective than mapquest. Plus, I often use my GPS and Google Maps as a back-up – you can never be too prepared when you’re driving places you’ve never been to before!
I’ve got plenty more observations where that came from and am looking forward to sharing them on Vehicle Vibes Radio. Next, I’ll be catching up with our favorite Chicago moms on December 3 when I hit the mid-west for a laugh out loud evening at the Comedy Sportz Theatre with the city’s top blogging moms. For more information on the See Mom Run tour, visit RoleMommy.com and SeeMomRunBook.com.
Future Book Launch Tour Dates:
December 17, 2009: Conservative Synagogue in Olney, MD
December 18, 2009: Playseum in Bethesda, MD
* The product reviewed by the author of this post was provided by Volkswagen free of charge.
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