| You are going on a long distance road trip of six hours | | | | and heavy feeling. Heavy and greasy food like double |
| or more. Let’s assume that you have done all of | | | | cheeseburgers, French fries, pizza, fried chicken and |
| your preliminary planning and organizing work. Your car | | | | biscuits will contribute to the desire to take a nap. |
| is clean, tuned up and inspected; your cell phone is | | | | Better to eat light food like salads, soup, fruit cups and |
| powered; your spare tire is in good shape; your gas | | | | juice during the trip to keep your head clear. Coffee or |
| tank is full; and you have all the travel maps you need | | | | hot chocolate is always a safe bet for long distance |
| to get to your destination. | | | | driving. |
| The goal of long distance driving is to get to your | | | | 4. Stop and Get Rest in a Safe Place. Contrary to |
| destination safely. We all know someone who says, | | | | popular belief, boyfriends and husbands, long distance |
| “The time to get there is usually six hours; I did it in | | | | driving demands frequent rest stops. Fatigue can |
| four and a half!” Speed should not be your primary | | | | overtake you quickly, especially if you only watch the |
| focus. If you focus on getting there in the fastest | | | | road in front of you instead of taking in the scenery |
| amount of time, mistakes and errors in judgment can | | | | while you drive. Be aware of overall discomfort, |
| be made. Here are five tips to reach your destination in | | | | muscle aches in the neck, arms and shoulders. This is |
| one piece. | | | | your body telling you it needs a break. When your tank |
| 1. Have a Current AAA Plus Membership Card with | | | | is half empty, take bathroom and gasoline breaks at |
| you. This annual membership provides 24-hour | | | | the same time. Stop in the refreshment area, walk |
| roadside service. The regular card will only transport | | | | around, clear your head, get some food, and then take |
| your car to the nearest repair shop, give a battery | | | | a nap. Never park in the outskirts of a rest stop; park |
| charge, or change a tire for a fee of under $50. The | | | | near another car or truck. Parking next to a van with a |
| AAA Plus card provides additional services. They will | | | | traveling family is always a safe bet. Park in front of a |
| tow you for 100 miles for free, a definite convenience | | | | fast food restaurant, and then go to sleep. You may |
| for long distance driving. The AAA plus also allows | | | | be surprised to see another driver next to your car |
| free fuel service, and a $750 traffic accident | | | | doing the same thing! |
| continuation trip if you are 50 miles or more from | | | | 5. Listen to Fast, Upbeat Music. This is not the time to |
| home. | | | | listen to classical music or talk radio. Unless the topic is |
| 2. Do Not Use Cruise Control. Long distance driving | | | | something that excites you, talk radio can lower your |
| can have a hypnotic and fatiguing effect. Cruise | | | | alertness. Instead, listen to upbeat music, especially |
| control emphasizes and enhances that effect. | | | | anything that makes you want to sing along. Play |
| Especially if you are tired, cruise control’s ability to | | | | music you haven’t heard before, like Hip Hop, Salsa, |
| stay at the same speed can quickly lull you into sleep. | | | | or Reggae. Change the radio station whenever you |
| Your eyes can close at that critical moment when | | | | reach a new state. Bring some tapes you enjoy, or |
| traffic slows down, and you’re still driving at 70 | | | | have a tape made of fast, stimulating music just for |
| miles per hour. Lose control of the car, and you have | | | | your long distance drives. |
| an accident waiting to happen. Drive the car on your | | | | Long distance driving can and should be a fun |
| own so you can speed up or stop at a moment’s | | | | experience. The quality of the drive should be better |
| notice as needed. | | | | than the quantity of arriving at your destination quickly, |
| 3. Don’t Eat Heavy Food during the trip. You are | | | | but exhausted. Use these tips on your next trip, and |
| going to be sitting and stationary for several hours at a | | | | see the change in your driving attitude. |
| time. Fast food in your stomach will give you a bloated | | | | |