Average Rating: 0
- Connect
- Living
Inside Living
Featured Living Article
Lyn Potter - Holiday Baking with the Grandkids
"Treats from Little and Friday" a recipe book in which Kim Evans shares all her delicious baking secrets is out just in time for the school holidays. Read more...
- Travel
- Health
Inside Health
Featured Health Article
Ron Tustin - Rethinking Retirement
"I never stopped doing anything when I retired; I stopped getting paid for it." - Bill Chavanne Read more...
- Money
- Retirement Living
- News
- Games
- Directories & Classifieds
- Offers
- Contact & Help
- Notices
-
WIN a Globus California Classics Tour for Two!
This year you could be taking a $9400 trip for two to California
Soothe Worry & Tension
...while enhancing your libido (men and women)
Sports & Travel Survey
Complete the survey and be in to win a $100 Westfield voucher
Let's Chat Over Lunch
Have a Free Lunch with Metlifecare
Feel All-Bran New
New Ways to Get Fibre Into Your Day
Win a return journey across Cook Strait
See more of New Zealand with Bluebridge
See the Difference
Eyesight Advice from Visique Optometrists
2degrees Offer
Making the CDMA switchover easy
Optometry & Eyewear Survey
We'd like to find out a little more about your optometry & eyewear preferences
CDMA Phone Network close down 31 July
Move now & get $79 credit with every Prepaid mobile
List your Classified
House Sitters, Employment, For Sale, Property & Personals
Live Chat
With fellow GrownUps in our multi-room chatCompare & Purchase Insurance products
Disclaimer: Grown Ups is not an Insurance Broker. We provide product information from recognised Insurance companies. We are not making recommendations and we accept no responsibility for decisions made as a result of using the information provided.'
R50 Sexual Health
Check out the new section available to everyone.
Recipes
Find some delicious recipes by clicking here.
Guide to Retirement Living
Get your own copy for free, here.
Join around 100,000 monthly visitors and 72,000 members: daily games, discussions, contribute articles, make new friendships, GrownUps-only offers & more...
Regular Columnists on GrownUps
Category sponsor
Five Top Safety Tips for Long Distance Driving
You are going on a long distance road trip of three hours or more. Let’s assume that you have done all of your preliminary planning and organising work. Your car is clean, tuned up and inspected; your cell phone is powered; your spare tire is in good shape; your gas tank is full; and you have all the travel maps you need to get to your destination.
The goal of long distance driving is to get to your destination safely. We all know someone who says, “The time to get there is usually six hours; I did it in four and a half!” Speed should not be your primary focus. If you focus on getting there in the fastest amount of time, mistakes and errors in judgment can be made. Here are five tips to reach your destination in one piece.1. Make sure someone knows when you’re travelling, and the approximate time they should expect you. Take breaks to pull over and text or call them to let them know the journey is going ok.
2. Do Not Use Cruise Control. Long distance driving can have a hypnotic and fatiguing effect. Cruise control emphasizes and enhances that effect. Especially if you are tired, cruise control’s ability to stay at the same speed can quickly lull you into sleep. Your eyes can close at that critical moment when traffic slows down, and you’re still driving at 70 miles per hour. Lose control of the car, and you have an accident waiting to happen. Drive the car on your own so you can speed up or stop at a moment’s notice as needed.
3. Don’t Eat Heavy Food during the trip. You are going to be sitting and stationary for several hours at a time. Fast food in your stomach will give you a bloated and heavy feeling. Heavy and greasy food like double cheeseburgers, French fries, pizza, fried chicken and biscuits will contribute to the desire to take a nap. Better to eat light food like salads, soup, fruit cups and juice during the trip to keep your head clear. Coffee or hot chocolate is always a safe bet for long distance driving.
4. Stop and Get Rest in a Safe Place. Contrary to popular belief, boyfriends and husbands, long distance driving demands frequent rest stops. Fatigue can overtake you quickly, especially if you only watch the road in front of you instead of taking in the scenery while you drive. Be aware of overall discomfort, muscle aches in the neck, arms and shoulders. This is your body telling you it needs a break. When your tank is half empty, take bathroom and gasoline breaks at the same time. Stop in the refreshment area, walk around, clear your head, get some food, and then take a nap. Never park in the outskirts of a rest stop; park near another car or truck. Parking next to a van with a travelling family is always a safe bet. Park in front of a fast food restaurant, and then go to sleep. You may be surprised to see another driver next to your car doing the same thing!
5. Listen to Fast, Upbeat Music. This is not the time to listen to classical music or talk radio. Unless the topic is something that excites you, talk radio can lower your alertness. Instead, listen to upbeat music, especially anything that makes you want to sing along. Play music you haven’t heard before, like Hip Hop, Salsa, or Reggae. Change the radio station whenever you reach a new state. Bring some tapes you enjoy, or have a tape made of fast, stimulating music just for your long distance drives.
Long distance driving can and should be a fun experience. The quality of the drive should be better than the quantity of arriving at your destination quickly, but exhausted. Use these tips on your next trip, and see the change in your driving attitude.
Advertisement
Advertisement
- Article Information
- Explore This Topic
-
This article is part of the Travel & Cruising topic. Click here to read articles, join discussions and more on this topic. Below are the latest articles in this topic.
- Discuss This
-
Click here to start a discussion on this or Click here to read other discussions.
- backpacking granny
Latest comment at 15:39 08 Mar 2012 by RoseLNZ - Travels in Vietnam
Latest comment at 19:31 19 Dec 2011 by Edbear - Canada/Alaska
Latest comment at 23:05 20 Aug 2011 by sweetpea.. - cruise partner wanted beginning 2011 from auckland
Latest comment at 21:02 11 Jun 2011 by shon010 - Home Hoppers Club - have a look!
Latest comment at 16:47 31 May 2011 by kerr021 - cruise buddy wanted
Latest comment at 20:38 11 May 2011 by inge001 - Looking for a traveling buddy
Latest comment at 17:44 05 Mar 2011 by ukmary - Lionworld Garden tour Singapore England France & Italy May 2011
Latest comment at 15:24 27 Feb 2011 by World Traveller - Plan for Slow Travel....
Latest comment at 11:35 23 Feb 2011 by sorento - New Zealand Motorhome Hire
Latest comment at 08:51 29 Dec 2010 by michaljn007 - Let oldies romance to!
Latest comment at 21:58 17 Dec 2010 by nevjam - Bruges and Cinque Terre
Latest comment at 10:42 05 Nov 2010 by JanBeau - Free Travel talk
Latest comment at 15:20 26 Oct 2010 by MIMI66 - travel out country
Latest comment at 15:13 02 Mar 2011 by lis001 - What not to miss in Alaska
Latest comment at 20:30 27 Apr 2010 by biddy - NZ travelling fulltime
Latest comment at 13:30 27 Apr 2010 by Handy_handle - Luggage restrictions on the Ghan
Latest comment at 14:27 14 Sep 2010 by Footplate - Tips for earthquake Safety
Latest comment at 09:16 02 Feb 2010 by bigall - Looking for travel companion
Latest comment at 20:17 28 Jun 2010 by Angila85 - unique holiday tours
Latest comment at 14:16 03 Dec 2009 by coppin
- backpacking granny
- Contribute
-
Click here to create an article on this topic, or view contributions made by your fellow GrownUps members
All contributions are entered into our regular prize draws!Below are a selection of User Contributed Article related to NZ.
- Where should I go and what should I see
- A little touch of inspiration
- 300 foot cliff
- The Earthquake 2011
- Delayed
- A Slice of Christchurch Heritage Walks
- Bowentown Family Holiday Park
- Why Worry B&B and Fishing Charters
- Michaels Teapot
- Puzzle-Mania in the Hokianga
- Christchurch a Scottish city?
- Day Trip To Hororata, Canterbury
- Click here for more User Contributed Articles
By becoming a GrownUps member and part of the Community, you gain access to:
- Enter Competitions
- Go into regular prize draws
- Play daily games
- Join Discussion Groups
- Find like-minded individuals and create lasting friendships
- Receive special GrownUps offers and
- Add you own articles of interest, recipes, pictures for fellow members to read and view.
site links
Learn how to take care of your mental health
Avalon Waterways European River cruising - 2013 Earlybird savings out now!
Get yourself super healthy and energised fast, live healthy - be healthy with Bev Bentley from Herbalife
Drive Europe from only $46 per day with Renault Eurodrive - click here to find out more.
Cycling New Zealand with the Geriatrix Cycle Touring Group.
Find out what the latest trends are in curtains for your home with the experts.
For endless views of endless plains, the best way to see Queensland's outback is by train. Now with exclusive GrownUps bonus 20% discount in First Class on Spirit of The Outback.
Wanting to remain independent and at home? Check out the range of home help services Geneva Care can provide to assist with this.
