Travel Tips

To Swerve or Not to Swerve”

Tip #1: When faced with potholes

• Pay attention to tire pressure. Keep tire pressure at level recommended by manufacturer, which will protect against tire damage on impact.
• Don’t swerve to avoid potholes. You may think it’s the best option, but swerving can cause your front wheel and tire on the car to hit the edge of the pothole causing more damage than hitting it straight on.
• Don’t brake just because you see a pothole. Heavy braking compresses the front suspension of the car and will have a tendency to force the tire and wheel down into the pothole, instead of gliding over.

Tip #2: Be aware of your surroundings

• If road signs indicate the presence of animals, rock slides or flooding, reduce speed accordingly.
  • Animals are more common in areas where creeks, rivers or streams run parallel to or intersect a road.
• Watch for activity on the shoulder or the reflection of your headlights in the animal’s eyes. 
  • Note, however, that some larger animals, such as moose, may stand above the range of your headlights.
    • Watch for the flickering headlights or tail lights of other cars, which may indicate unexpected breaking or warning signals.
    • If road reflectors disappear and reappear, animals may be crossing.
    • Make a mental note of what you would do if any sort of obstruction were to appear in front of your vehicle.

Tip #3: In the case of animals

• Reacting to animals on the road is very situational.  If you encounter a small to medium sized animal, it is often best to apply the breaks but maintain your course.  Although the animal may not survive the impact, you will fair significantly better.  Swerving may put you in the direct path of oncoming cars or other more substantial inanimate objects.
  • This should not be considered an absolute rule.  If a driver is able to determine that they can safely swerve around the animal without endangering themselves or other motorists, then they should follow their instincts.  
    • Moose and similarly sized animals are the exception to the aforementioned rule.  Impact with a moose, which can weigh up to 1200 lbs, increases the chance for injury or death to driver/passengers dramatically.  When presented with this situation, it is best to swerve around the animal.
  • The wildlife Collision Prevention Program notes: “If a crash with a moose is inevitable, crouch as low as possible in your seat, or under the dash, as a moose's body usually ends up crushing the roof of a car completely flat.

Tip #4: When dealing with puddles & fallen trees

• The dangers of swerving apply in all driving situations, not just when confronted with an animal.
  • Always try to break short of the obstruction.
• Puddles may cause a car to hydroplane, but swerving may cause an immediate crash.
  • Maintain low speeds when the streets are wet and never swerve into oncoming traffic.

Tip #5: If you see live electrical wires

• Avoid downed power lines.  A car’s tires should insulate the car from an electrical current, but any number of variables could compromise the safety of car and passengers.

Bad Weather Driving Tips  

• Don’t just carry a cell; pre-program it with important numbers including reliable roadside service providers. Sign up in advance for AAA emergency road service, so you are guaranteed assistance during inclement weather. (800-AAA-HELP or your local AAA club number)

 

• Know the local AM radio stations, so you can tune in for up to the minute important traffic and weather advisories. Vroom Vroom Vroom loves radio-locator, www.radio-locator.com, which provides a comprehensive list of radio stations around the world. If renting, just ask your rental agent before pulling away. 

 

• As soon as rain begins, turn on headlights and windshield wipers! Not only is it a critical safety precaution, if visibility is reduced to less than 500 feet it’s required by law in many states. And remember; when it’s foggy use your low-beams. High-beams reduce visibility in fog.

 

• Remember that four-wheel drive helps you get going quicker, but it won’t help you stop any faster!

 

• For rentals be sure to ask if the car is a front wheel, rear wheel or four-wheel drive vehicle – Don’t know the difference? Here’s the deal… 

 

• Front wheel drive - the front two wheels pull the car. It handles well because if the front wheels slip the car is more likely to stay in line
• Rear wheel drive - the rear two wheels push the car. When a rear wheel drive car slips, the tail end of the car will often swing, effectively destabilizing the entire car
• Four-wheel drive - all four wheels spin to push/pull the car. Offers increased traction and prevent cars from getting stuck.  Best option for snow and ice, but beware it can decrease your sense of how slippery roads are, so ALWAYS drive with caution.

 

• When traveling in cold weather, keep your car gassed up so that the fuel lines don’t freeze.

 

• Okay, so we know you learned it when you were 16, but let’s all repeat. If your car starts to skid, whatever you do (no matter your impulse), don’t hit the brakes! Ease off the accelerator and turn into the direction of the skid.

 

• Whether driving in a warm or cold climate, always have a pair of sun glasses in the car, preferable ones with UV protection. You never know when you’ll be faced with blinding sun, sometimes it’s at its worst when reflecting off snow.

 

• When it’s raining – Try to stay in the middle lanes as water tends to pool in the outside lanes.

 

• Always make sure your car is equipped with a spare tire, food and water. And very important, when renting a vehicle ALWAYS ask your agent to show you the spare tire before pulling away.

Basic Travel Tips 

When travelling by car rental, whether it be for business or pleasure, driving should be fun and safe. There is nothing like renting the latest model and smelling brand new interior. With each new car however, the driving experience is different.

With this new experience, you should incorporate some added precautions to make sure that your car rental is a safe one.

- Maps and locations

Before you set out on your journey, whether it be to tour the countryside or to go to your hotel, make sure that you discuss with the car rental representatives where you need to go and how to get there. Most car rental dealers have free maps and diagrams on which they can draw your path. Orientate yourself in terms of directions before you get into the car.

- Prepare the car rental

Once you get to your car, the car rental dealer may have stuck tags, stickers, emblems on the seat, hanging from the rear-view mirror, on the dash. Make sure that all of these items are stowed safely away and that your view in your car rental is completely unobstructed.

- Familiarize yourself with your car rental

Cars come in all shapes and sizes. Even if you have the same model but a different year, the placement of functions and operation of the car may be completely changed around. When it comes to turning signals, the radio, steering column, stick shift, make sure that you are completely familiar with your car rental before you set out. If you are driving at night, make sure that you know how to operate the running lights and headlights before you turn on the car. So many people familiarize themselves with their new car rental while navigating through the parking lot. Keep in mind, all the other customers in the parking lot are doing the same thing!

- Go slow at first

Make sure you spend some time familiarizing yourself with the car’s acceleration characteristics. Acceleration, brake and clutch pedals can have different levels of sensitivity. When you first start out, this is probably the most likely reason to get into an accident. Going slowly in the parking lot before you exit, it is a good idea to try the brakes a couple of times to make sure not only that they work but also that you know what will happen when you react to an emergency situation. Even after you exit the parking lot, drive slowly until you feel comfortable.

- Wrong hand drive

Finally, if you are visiting from another country, the steering wheel may be on the other side than what you are familiar with. Take extra precaution to make sure you stay on the appropriate side of the road, especially at intersections. A good guideline for this is to make sure that the steering wheel is always closest to the center of the road. After making a turn, if you find that your steering wheel is closer to the side of the road, most likely you are on the wrong side of the road!

Getting a car rental should be safe as well as fun. Make sure you are prepared before you start off and you will have no trouble.

Happy Driving!