Posts Tagged ‘Intersections’

Winter Driving

September 15th, 2009 Tushar Mathur

Winter driving needs some extra attention, special skills, and lots of patience. When ice or snow is covering the ground, the first thing to remember when going somewhere is to have plenty of emergency items with you. Blankets, coat, flashlight, flashers and standard items such as a spare tire and jack are items needed in case of car trouble. Bottled water and snack items are also a good idea to have in the trunk or glove box in case of long waiting hours for help.
When it comes to driving on ice, the rule of thumb is the slower, the better. Be in no hurry. Allow extra time to arrive to your destination. Also, be prepared for the slow driving conditions. It is best not to try to pass the slow moving traffic. They are driving at their comfort level, and are driving that speed for a reason. If you have a vehicle that features 4-wheel drive, do not be too comfortable with that feature. This feature might help with traction, but it will not help you stop any faster, or any safer.
Always drive with your headlights on, especially if ice or snow is currently falling. Make it a practice not to use cruise control on this type of road condition. Semi-trucks have an even harder time slowing down, so do not cut in front of them.

Intersections, off-ramps, bridges and shady spots have more potential to have black ice spots. Black ice is very difficult, sometimes impossible to see, and can cause your car to spin out of control in the blink of an eye.
One important way to decrease the chance of losing control of your car is to avoid sudden stops, hard braking, or quick acceleration of the car. Another way is to also slow down upon approaching areas listed above that harbor black ice. Also, allow plenty of extra time to slow down for a turn, or to even come to a stop at an intersection.

Watching ahead and behind of your vehicle is always a good idea. Making sure you know what other drivers on the road are doing can ensure you safely respond to them. Watching the brake lights of the second car in line ahead of you will give you extra time to know and respond to their stopping.

Following these tips, and using common sense in the winter months, will help increase your chances of arriving safe and sound.

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Hitchhiking Tips

September 5th, 2009 Tushar Mathur

Okay, as a parent, I have to start this article with stating the obvious. Hitchhiking is not a safe practice, and should be avoided at all costs. Here are some simple tips and suggestions if you want to go for hitchhike. Hitchhiking is defined as the act of asking for a ride from a passerby, by extending one’s thumb out and standing on the side of the road. In these difficult financial times, hitchhiking is the best way to save some money. At an average of $2.50 a gallon, many people are using their feet to walk instead of to work the foot feed of their vehicle. As with any factor of interacting with strangers, caution and common sense should be used at the optimal level. If something does not feel right, it is best not to put yourself in an uncomfortable situation. As with anything, there are positives and negatives in the action of hitchhiking. You could meet new and interesting people; maybe even make a friend or two. On the other hand, very bad things can happen to women and children, even some men who get in a car or vehicle with a stranger.
In addition, while hitchhiking used to be a common practice, many drivers these days do not feel at ease as much as before when it comes to picking up a stranger on the side of the road. A few bad people have made it hard to trust. Most drivers do not know rather to trust the person asking for help or not, for fear of their own safety and the safety of their current passengers. Hitchhiking is rarely illegal, but there are some locations where it is illegal. On highways, near intersections, and at bus stops are places that consider hitchhiking illegal. So, make sure you know the rules and locations before choosing to hitchhike. This will help you avoid getting booked for trespassing or obstructing traffic. Other tips to keep in mind are these:
• Be prepared to walk all day. As listed above, most people are not as helpful as you would like.
• Have a map of the area you are traveling to. This way, you know what route you want to take, and if picked up, will not be taken out of the way. • Carry a backpack with essentials such as sunscreen, a flashlight, and pocketknife, bottle of water, granola bars and hat.

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