i've never really driven outside of one city and i'd like to learn how to feel more comfortable doing like 2, 3, 4-hour drives so i can visit people. anyone have any tips? i was gonna try increasing the length of trips by small amounts each time
Conversation
main things i worry about:
1) i've driven very little on highways lately and i don't feel as comfortable with them as i used to. when i can't read the signs fast enough to understand how to take exits and stuff i get freaked out :/ not sure how to deal with this
Replying to
(there are some parts of the highways in seattle where i swear the signs give directly contradictory directions about what to do, or at least i got really confused at one point and had to freak out in the car afterwards to calm down)
2
12
2) i've also never had to deal with stuff like flat tires, getting stuck in the snow in the middle of nowhere, etc, and i'm worried about my ability to handle situations like that. i guess learn how to call AAA and be prepared to walk for awhile worst case??? anything else?
7
11
Replying to
Get an up-to-date paper map. The 2022 Rand McNally Road Atlas is excellent.
Learn how to read roads from the map only, and follow along by referencing the mile markers and town names.
Plan a 200 mile route so thoroughly that you end at a gas station without consulting a GPS.
1
1
Show replies
also it's nice to take a break every hour or two. many highways have rest stops, otherwise you can use signs for gas stations or restaurants off of exits.
2
Replying to
it is totally OK to miss your exit, just take the next one & figure it out from there
1
9
this generalizes
3
Replying to
You should drive frequently on the highway. GPS (audio) allows you to focus simply on driving safely and it worries about where to go, and if you miss a turn... it recalculates.
Work on moving beyond the bare minimum of being able to drive.
1
One of the first things I told my students was that having a process of improvement, that you are always implementing and getting safe practice are all you need to be unstoppably great. So there are things you do for safety, and there is ways to build redundancy...
2
Show replies