8 Tips For Ticket-Free Holiday Driving + more : )
8 Tips For Ticket-Free Holiday Driving + more : )
It’s Memorial Day Weekend, the traditional start of the summer driving season. With gas prices trending downwards, the annual family road-trip vacation could be making a comeback this year.
But before you hit the highways, you will want to think about a few things to make your journey safer and more enjoyable.
8 Holiday Driving Tips
Think Before You Hit The Road
Posted: May 27, 2010
Posted: May 27, 2010
These few tips will help get you to your holiday vacation destination as safely as possible
by: Jeff Sabatini | AOL Autos
It’s Memorial Day Weekend and we want our MCF Member's to be safe on their highways, the traditional start of the summer driving season. With gas prices trending downwards, the annual family road-trip vacation could be making a comeback this year. But before you hit the highways, you will want to think about a few things to make your journey safer and more enjoyable.
1. Flashing lights are only fun in an amusement park.
There’s no reason to risk a run-in with the gendarmes. Keep in mind that in some jurisdictions even a common speeding ticket can result in a lengthy delay -- or worse. Your out-of-state license could mean an immediate trip to traffic court with a bond payment required before you’ll be let go. Speeding isn’t the only sort of traffic citation cops write, so be doubly cautious. Some practices you might take for granted at home, like turning left from a one-way street to another one-way on a red light, can be illegal elsewhere. And again, your out-of-state plate makes you fresh meat for local ticket writers, including meter maids.
There’s no reason to risk a run-in with the gendarmes. Keep in mind that in some jurisdictions even a common speeding ticket can result in a lengthy delay -- or worse. Your out-of-state license could mean an immediate trip to traffic court with a bond payment required before you’ll be let go. Speeding isn’t the only sort of traffic citation cops write, so be doubly cautious. Some practices you might take for granted at home, like turning left from a one-way street to another one-way on a red light, can be illegal elsewhere. And again, your out-of-state plate makes you fresh meat for local ticket writers, including meter maids.
2. Get a free vehicle inspection.
The local Chrysler dealer sends me coupons in the mail almost weekly offering a free vehicle inspection for my minivan. My wife gets similar offers from the BMW shop. Why not take them up on their inspection offer? You’ve got nothing to lose and everything to gain. If they identify potentially trip-interrupting issues, like loose tie rods or frayed drive belts, you can have them remedied before your departure. Just remember that you’re not obligated to have any service performed then and there. Before you spend all your vacation money on repairs, you might want to get a second opinion, both to compare price and to determine how serious the problem really is.
3. Change the oil? Buy new tires?
If you’re going on a cross-country trip and you’re 500 miles away from your next scheduled oil change, go ahead and get it done early. You’ll probably get a better deal at home than trying to have the service performed on the road. Either choice is probably better than putting it off until you get return. Similar advice on the tires: If they’re close to the end of their useful tread life, replace them. Nothing screws up a road trip more than getting in an accident, and having good tires improves handling and braking performance more than any other factor.
Hitting the road for the holidays? Before you leave, check out these helpful links!
The local Chrysler dealer sends me coupons in the mail almost weekly offering a free vehicle inspection for my minivan. My wife gets similar offers from the BMW shop. Why not take them up on their inspection offer? You’ve got nothing to lose and everything to gain. If they identify potentially trip-interrupting issues, like loose tie rods or frayed drive belts, you can have them remedied before your departure. Just remember that you’re not obligated to have any service performed then and there. Before you spend all your vacation money on repairs, you might want to get a second opinion, both to compare price and to determine how serious the problem really is.
3. Change the oil? Buy new tires?
If you’re going on a cross-country trip and you’re 500 miles away from your next scheduled oil change, go ahead and get it done early. You’ll probably get a better deal at home than trying to have the service performed on the road. Either choice is probably better than putting it off until you get return. Similar advice on the tires: If they’re close to the end of their useful tread life, replace them. Nothing screws up a road trip more than getting in an accident, and having good tires improves handling and braking performance more than any other factor.
Hitting the road for the holidays? Before you leave, check out these helpful links!
4. Set your tire pressure.
Yes, I probably could have included this in tip #2, but it’s so important that it deserves its own bullet point. Most people are driving around on underinflated tires, sacrificing a mile (or in some conditions, more) per gallon in fuel economy. Inflate your tires to the pressure recommended by the manufacturer, and do it when the tires are cold. (Air pressure can increase by several pounds per square inch as the tires heat up.) Use a real tire pressure gauge, not the one built into the air hose. Besides maximizing fuel economy, correctly inflated tires will improve handling and are more resistant to punctures.
5. Plan your route.
By whatever means necessary: GPS, AAA TripTik, Mapquest, or good old-fashioned paper road atlas. But after you’ve picked out what appears to be the ideal route, spend a few more minutes researching summer road construction plans. There is a wealth of information available online, starting with each state’s own department of transportation Web pages. Real-time traffic information can plot out backups and is provided for free by Web-based mapping services like Mapquest. There are also applications of this sort available for mobile devices, including GPS units and smart phones. Regardless of which method you use, the information is there for the taking and can help prevent wasting time in traffic.
6. Clean out your vehicle.
Perhaps this doesn’t bear mentioning, but from the looks of my wife’s car, everyone could use a little reminder. The last thing you need when setting out on a multi-state drive is a funky-smelling, cluttered car, so go ahead and drop it off at the local auto detailer – or just clean it yourself. It will get smelly enough with the entire family traveling in close confines soon enough, but you might as well begin the trip on a fresh note. While you’re at it, take the ice scraper, the vintage road atlas, and the worthless socket set that’s missing the drive wrench out of the trunk. Leave those useless items in the garage, along with anything else you don’t really need, like that third row of minivan seats that serves no purpose other than 50 pounds of dead weight.
7. Slow down.
It’s the best way to increase fuel economy, yet most drivers are reticent to sacrifice those precious few minutes they “save” by driving at or over the speed limit. I’m not going to turn this into a math-based lecture on lawbreaking, but in some cases slowing your rate of travel by 5-10 miles per hour can improve gas mileage by 5-10 percent. (Not to mention the potential safety implications of your reduced speed.) And if you’re really worried about the effect that slower rate of travel will have on your drive time, try improving your time management skills. Forego a half-hour of sleep or fill up the tank while the rest of the family packs its suitcases. Remember, there’s not a kid on earth who can’t hurry it up a bit at the rest area.
8. Get off the Interstate.
If you’ll permit a bit of editorializing, there is nothing that will increase the amount of fun you have on your next family vacation more than taking the back roads to wherever you’re going. Yes, there will be complaining (isn’t there always?) when you stop at a local diner for lunch and your brood is not served the same homogenous food found at every freeway exit. Yes, it will take longer to get there and you may find yourself driving into the wee hours of the night. Yes, you may be forced to stop at one of those hotels that’s not part of a national chain and doesn’t have a satisfied-or-it’s-free policy. Yes, you will have to stop for directions and talk to people who talk funny or look at you funny or just plain are funny. But isn’t that point of leaving home in the first place?
Yes, I probably could have included this in tip #2, but it’s so important that it deserves its own bullet point. Most people are driving around on underinflated tires, sacrificing a mile (or in some conditions, more) per gallon in fuel economy. Inflate your tires to the pressure recommended by the manufacturer, and do it when the tires are cold. (Air pressure can increase by several pounds per square inch as the tires heat up.) Use a real tire pressure gauge, not the one built into the air hose. Besides maximizing fuel economy, correctly inflated tires will improve handling and are more resistant to punctures.
5. Plan your route.
By whatever means necessary: GPS, AAA TripTik, Mapquest, or good old-fashioned paper road atlas. But after you’ve picked out what appears to be the ideal route, spend a few more minutes researching summer road construction plans. There is a wealth of information available online, starting with each state’s own department of transportation Web pages. Real-time traffic information can plot out backups and is provided for free by Web-based mapping services like Mapquest. There are also applications of this sort available for mobile devices, including GPS units and smart phones. Regardless of which method you use, the information is there for the taking and can help prevent wasting time in traffic.
6. Clean out your vehicle.
Perhaps this doesn’t bear mentioning, but from the looks of my wife’s car, everyone could use a little reminder. The last thing you need when setting out on a multi-state drive is a funky-smelling, cluttered car, so go ahead and drop it off at the local auto detailer – or just clean it yourself. It will get smelly enough with the entire family traveling in close confines soon enough, but you might as well begin the trip on a fresh note. While you’re at it, take the ice scraper, the vintage road atlas, and the worthless socket set that’s missing the drive wrench out of the trunk. Leave those useless items in the garage, along with anything else you don’t really need, like that third row of minivan seats that serves no purpose other than 50 pounds of dead weight.
7. Slow down.
It’s the best way to increase fuel economy, yet most drivers are reticent to sacrifice those precious few minutes they “save” by driving at or over the speed limit. I’m not going to turn this into a math-based lecture on lawbreaking, but in some cases slowing your rate of travel by 5-10 miles per hour can improve gas mileage by 5-10 percent. (Not to mention the potential safety implications of your reduced speed.) And if you’re really worried about the effect that slower rate of travel will have on your drive time, try improving your time management skills. Forego a half-hour of sleep or fill up the tank while the rest of the family packs its suitcases. Remember, there’s not a kid on earth who can’t hurry it up a bit at the rest area.
8. Get off the Interstate.
If you’ll permit a bit of editorializing, there is nothing that will increase the amount of fun you have on your next family vacation more than taking the back roads to wherever you’re going. Yes, there will be complaining (isn’t there always?) when you stop at a local diner for lunch and your brood is not served the same homogenous food found at every freeway exit. Yes, it will take longer to get there and you may find yourself driving into the wee hours of the night. Yes, you may be forced to stop at one of those hotels that’s not part of a national chain and doesn’t have a satisfied-or-it’s-free policy. Yes, you will have to stop for directions and talk to people who talk funny or look at you funny or just plain are funny. But isn’t that point of leaving home in the first place?
Member's post your tips for your Monte Family.
Our MCF `Staff wishes everyone a Safe & Happy Holiday WeekEnd...EnJoy
Our MCF `Staff wishes everyone a Safe & Happy Holiday WeekEnd...EnJoy
Monte Of The Month -- January 2010
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 8,464
From: San Jose, CA
Agreed! It is a very useful tool for me and my Monte! 
I use it all the time, even when i'm just going to the store. It is on 95% of the time.
It is a very useful tool for me and my Monte! I use it all the time, even when i'm just going to the store. It is on 95% of the time.
...Thanks Mod's Mike & Michael for your post/tips & endorsement.Below are site's for member's to check `out if they are
thinking of getting a radar detector.....If you have one, do you like it ? Give your review to your Monte Family Member's `OK....Thanks
Below from Google's Search:
Valentine One - Best radar detector reviews from the world's most ...
Dec 28, 2009 ... Not that even the best radar detector will make you invulnerable. ... for the Escort 8500's nine--than any detector on the market. ...
radartest.com/article.asp?articleid=1064
RadarTest.com - Best radar detector reviews from the world's most ...
Tests and reviews by Radartest.com of the best radar detectors from Beltronics, Cobra, Escort, Whistler and Valentine. Extensive information about GPS ...
www.radartest.com/ - Similar
Show more results from www.radartest.com
Best Radar Detector Overall: Expert Reviews & Rankings | Bestcovery
Why it's a best pick: The Escort Passport 9500ix is one of the most feature-laden radar detectors on the market today. Its main advantage over competitors ...
www.bestcovery.com/best-radar-detector-overall - Cached - Similar
<LI class=g>Radar Laser Detectors: Top Rated Radar Dectectors
Buyer's guide to radar detectors from ConsumerSearch scours the most reliable expert tests and user ratings to name the best radar detectors, ...
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Radar Detectors Reviews; Best Radar Detector
ConsumerSearch analyzes field tests and comparative evaluations of radar detectors, identifying models that best alert to radar and laser threats.
www.consumersearch.com/radar-detectors - Cached - Similar
Compare Radar Detectors
If you ask our opinion, we feel that the best radar detectors on the market are the Escort 8500 x50, Escort 9500ix, Beltronics RX65 , Beltronics GX65 and ...
www.bestradardetectors.net/Radar_Detector...a/110.htm - Cached - Similar
Radar Detector FAQ's
Radar Detector FAQ's. What is the best radar detector? ... The Beltronics STi Driver is the only detector on the market that is immune to all RDD ...
www.bestradardetectors.net/Radar_Detector_FAQ.../112.htm - Cached - Similar
Radar Detectors Research Guide Compare Best Radar Detector
When effective radar detection hit the market, police upped the ante with .... If they are illegal in your area, it's best not to use a radar detector. ...
www.autoanything.com/radar-detectors/50A17A127A1.aspx - Cached - Similar
..It pays 2 do you homework when U R invest'in your $'s 4-Sure
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 67
Courtesy is contagious. No road rage. Do not allow your car to be an extension of your self.
Get an early start so you and your family can get to the destination safely.
Make a checklist.
There are more items to list, so have a great time and return home in one piece.
Donald
Get an early start so you and your family can get to the destination safely.
Make a checklist.
There are more items to list, so have a great time and return home in one piece.
Donald
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 474
From: KC,MO
Since tomorrow I am leaving for a week here is what I do. (Yes, I know I am crazy)
I pack everything that I am going to take and put it all in one spot in the house a week in advance. The reason why I do this is because I know I have forgot something and when I am thinking about all of the stuff I am going to be doing during that week I can review what I have packed and if I need to pack anything else.
The day or two before I leave I check all fluids and tire pressure and change any that need to be changed. As for gas milage...normally my poor truck is so loaded down with my stuff and my friend's stuff I don't worry about it.
Money...don't laugh but I try to save alittle back here and there that way A. I have it and B. I don't have to depend on an ATM to give it to me. There is alittle story that I am going to tell you and if it happened to me it would have ruined my vac as I am sure it did this peoples. (Again, I like to have everything done ahead of time so this doesn't happen to me and I can enjoy my vac that I have earned :P) I was in a Target to pull deposits from an ATM and there was a couple there. They had someone from the bank on the cell phone and was demanding them to come down there and give them back their ATM card because they had to be on a plane in 2 hours and needed their ATM card. They even had a manager from Target there also trying to help them get their ATM card. They asked me to get it and told me their story. I told them "Sorry but if I do I will lose my job" Which is the truth. So I left and they was still on the phone with the bank demanding someone come down there 2 hours before the bank opens up and give them their card back. I have always tried to have the money in hand before I leave but that just reinforces that I have good practices on that. (not on other things but lest on that :P)
One of the last things that I do is I am always in a hurry uptil we get on the road. Then I come down....sure I want to get there but I know something...that in about 2 to 3 hours I will be sitting on a couch drinking a cold one talking about what we want to do for the week. So why speed and chance the ticket and delayed time to do that...just set the cruise for the speed limit or 5 over and enjoy the trip. I also like to travel with friends so I have someone to talk with, makes the time go by faster.
Anyways those are my tips for holiday travel I hope you all have a safe one and I hope I catch alot of fish
I pack everything that I am going to take and put it all in one spot in the house a week in advance. The reason why I do this is because I know I have forgot something and when I am thinking about all of the stuff I am going to be doing during that week I can review what I have packed and if I need to pack anything else.
The day or two before I leave I check all fluids and tire pressure and change any that need to be changed. As for gas milage...normally my poor truck is so loaded down with my stuff and my friend's stuff I don't worry about it.
Money...don't laugh but I try to save alittle back here and there that way A. I have it and B. I don't have to depend on an ATM to give it to me. There is alittle story that I am going to tell you and if it happened to me it would have ruined my vac as I am sure it did this peoples. (Again, I like to have everything done ahead of time so this doesn't happen to me and I can enjoy my vac that I have earned :P) I was in a Target to pull deposits from an ATM and there was a couple there. They had someone from the bank on the cell phone and was demanding them to come down there and give them back their ATM card because they had to be on a plane in 2 hours and needed their ATM card. They even had a manager from Target there also trying to help them get their ATM card. They asked me to get it and told me their story. I told them "Sorry but if I do I will lose my job" Which is the truth. So I left and they was still on the phone with the bank demanding someone come down there 2 hours before the bank opens up and give them their card back. I have always tried to have the money in hand before I leave but that just reinforces that I have good practices on that. (not on other things but lest on that :P)
One of the last things that I do is I am always in a hurry uptil we get on the road. Then I come down....sure I want to get there but I know something...that in about 2 to 3 hours I will be sitting on a couch drinking a cold one talking about what we want to do for the week. So why speed and chance the ticket and delayed time to do that...just set the cruise for the speed limit or 5 over and enjoy the trip. I also like to travel with friends so I have someone to talk with, makes the time go by faster.
Anyways those are my tips for holiday travel I hope you all have a safe one and I hope I catch alot of fish
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