Precision driving: Driving tips for summer trips

Especially during the summer months, many of us will head out on the highways for lengthy drives. These may be journeys of 2000, 5000, or even 7000 miles, where ten-hour-per-day seat duty is required to make proper time. Covering this serious amount of ground successfully necessitates preparedness.

Of course, one needs a proper vehicle for the outing. Good rubber (tire failure is the number one highway breakdown), a drive train that will spin all day at 75 mph, hoses that won’t burst, and belts that won’t break are all important. Beyond that, however, it is the driver who must be up to the task.

There was a time that I made several of these long hauls per year. Now, I am down to only one or two of them per annum, and since it’s not as habitual, I find it important to “gear up” for them. Throughout the year, much of our driving time is spent in stop-and-go local driving, with an overall speed average of around 20 mph. Spending the whole day at 70 mph plus is out of our normal zone of practice.

The following are my thoughts on preparation for road trips and the errors that can occur during them.

Mental and physical preparedness

I liken the mental readying to that of a contractor estimating a job. To make a profit, the construction estimator must be good at accurately figuring the time needed to complete the job. This is not always a straightforward process of multiplying man-hours. For real-world accuracy, he must anticipate “hiccups”, such as workforce problems, or changes in material costs.

Besides being well rested, and physically able, a driver about to take a long trip must be mentally ready. That means knowing your route, and estimating your time. Don’t try to drive 750 miles per day, unless you are truly willing to undergo a serious day of driving. To cover that distance, you will need to be on the road 11-12 hours, and be fairly efficient. A gas stop is the only one you will have time for, and that will have to take the form of a NASCAR pit stop — purposeful and quick.

There is nothing wrong with covering that distance in a day, but if you are going to do it, don’t underestimate the task, or attempt it with little sleep. If you like a more leisurely pace, with sightseeing stops, 400-mile days make more sense. If you don’t like to spend the whole day driving, your goal may be only 250 miles. Simply preplan your schedule.

Not scanning, or looking far enough ahead

These shortcomings are major factors in freeway collisions. Since we are mainly “tuned in” to lower speeds, we may not adjust properly to freeway speeds until we are in trouble. Obviously, events happen more quickly at 70 mph than at 30 mph, so we must adjust our driving habits accordingly.

We should continuously scan, using forward vision, peripheral vision, and mirrors. Identify vehicles around you, and regularly track their appearance, actions, and disappearance. Try to obtain a driving “niche” with proper space all around you.

Since traffic is moving rapidly on the freeways, be sure to look ahead as far as you can for things you may need to react to. Not only do things happen suddenly, but also hours of trouble free driving can set up complacency, when one is unready for emergencies.

Not recognizing fatigue

Too many drivers fail to give fatigue the attention it deserves. There are many ways to deal with it, and being well rested before the drive is the first defense. Still, after hours on the road, anyone can succumb to weariness. I’ve heard lots of “remedies”, from slapping your face, to sniffing ammonia, to singing, to sticking you head out of the window.

I don’t recommend any of those, but rather prefer the old fashioned method of pulling off the road, and closing my eyes — that’s proper relief. If I don’t wish to dilute my speed run with a nap, I will sometimes stop and take a brief walk to awaken my senses.

Whatever you remedy, please don’t continue to roll down the highway when your eyelids are getting heavy.

Overdriving

This is a mistake that even seasoned race drivers can make. Things are going along smoothly until an emergency occurs — then the driver overreacts to it.

For us, this may be avoiding an animal in our path, or reacting to a blown tire. Guarded use of the steering and brakes at freeway speeds is essential. Generally, gradual deceleration, and minor steering input will work better than harsh attempts at maneuvering in emergency situations.

Similarly, don’t carry too much speed into turns—another product of spending all day at high speeds. Experience and judgment is necessary to slow to target turning speed by braking before the turn.

Be prepared for safe summer travel — think ahead!