| Driving long distance, traveling thousands of miles by | | | | description includes the statement, "road conditions |
| car, has its advantages and disadvantages. The | | | | were good and are not believed to have been a |
| advantages are getting to know new surroundings, | | | | factor; alcohol also is not believed to have been the |
| people, customs, foods etc. But it is absolutely essential | | | | cause." So, what else is there? Is it paranoid to |
| to pace oneself, to not over estimate what can be | | | | suggest that driver fatigue might be responsible far |
| done in a day without considering one's ability to stay | | | | more often than we all realize? |
| alert. | | | | 2. Pace yourself, especially when roads are dry and |
| 1. Plan ahead. Check your route. Investigate possible | | | | straight, and the center line hypnotically guides you |
| points of interest and turn every day into a bit of an | | | | along. |
| adventure even though the goal is to reach a certain | | | | When road and weather conditions are challenging, it's |
| destination at day's end. | | | | easier to stay alert. The most dangerous stretches |
| Driving long distance can thus be used to extend a | | | | are the ones that don't demand much of anything |
| holiday by a few more days, but here's the shocker. | | | | beyond holding the steering wheel and keeping the gas |
| Not everyone feels that way. Far more often than we | | | | pedal depressed. |
| like we meet people along the way, in rest stops for | | | | 3. Use your cruise control only sparingly. |
| example, who make us feel like we're crazy. "Six | | | | Imagine driver and partner both asleep with the cruise |
| days?" they blurt in amazement, "we do the same | | | | set for 70! |
| distance in three!" | | | | 4. Remember that four eyes are better than two. |
| Then they outline how they rise at 3:00 a.m. and have | | | | Don't drive such long stretches that you and your |
| already traveled 350 miles before stopping for | | | | partner must take turns sleeping while the other drives. |
| breakfast somewhere. | | | | 5. Conversation helps keep the driver alert. Sing! Munch |
| That is a shocker, isn't it? Think about it. Here you are | | | | away on carrots and celery sticks! |
| pacing yourself, taking turns driving, asking the other | | | | 6. Make good use of rest stops, not only for bathroom |
| whether he/she would like to be relieved, and there, in | | | | breaks but also to walk around and stretch your limbs. |
| the oncoming lane, is someone who has been driving | | | | Driving long distances can be fun. If you take your time, |
| for hours like an automaton, and surely is not the most | | | | all benefits of the drive will not be lost by the time you |
| alert driver on the freeway. | | | | reach your destination. Nothing beats a good plan. Go |
| How often do we hear of accidents, where the | | | | here for more helpful thoughts. |