One of the nice things about living in the Tri-State Area is that you are never more than about 200 miles away from something you have never seen before.<\/p>\n
And, since Old Man Winter is still at least a month away (we\u2019re keeping our fingers crossed on that one), many people are thinking about squeezing in one last road trip.<\/p>\n
Therefore, it\u2019s a good time to take a break from coronavirus concerns and hit the road. But no one leaves it all behind. Before you get behind the wheel, here are a few things to remember.<\/p>\n
Most people never think about bringing these things on a road trip. But many hotels have suspended cleaning services because of the coronavirus pandemic. Many Airbnb hosts are doing the same thing.<\/p>\n
A road trip always requires some snacks. It\u2019s a good idea to pack something more substantial than granola bars.<\/p>\n
Many restaurants have limited hours or services, such as no dine-in service. Others are on the opposite end of the spectrum.<\/p>\n
They may not respect social distancing guidelines, so you might not feel safe there. If you have a food allergy, it is also a good idea to pack your own snacks.<\/p>\n
Pandemic fatigue<\/a><\/u> is a real problem. With no end to the outbreak in sight, many people are increasingly lax about basic safety precautions.<\/p>\n One person in the car, preferably not the driver, should regularly squirt hand sanitizer.<\/p>\n As mentioned, many restaurants have reduced schedules and services.<\/p>\n The same is true of many tourist destinations, like amusement parks, state parks, and other such areas.<\/p>\n Before you leave, make sure the place you are going is accessible. Also take some time to confirm that the destination is coping with the coronavirus pandemic in a way that makes you and your family comfortable.<\/p>\n Physical fatigue is another aspect of pandemic fatigue. Stress and anxiety over COVID-19 keeps many people up at night. If you are worn down, you are more likely to get sick. And that\u2019s one thing we all want to avoid.<\/p>\n Vehicle traffic dropped off to almost nothing during the spring 2020 lockdowns. It\u2019s now on the rebound. Some people, like you, want a safe getaway.<\/p>\n Others just want to get out of the house for a few minutes. The uptick in drivers also means an uptick in impaired drivers.<\/p>\n As mentioned, coronavirus causes sleepless nights.<\/p>\n And, driving after eighteen hours without sleep, which is the equivalent of a long day on the road, is like driving with a .05 BAC level<\/a><\/u>.<\/p>\n Fatigue, like alcohol, impairs motor skills and clouds judgement ability.<\/p>\n Alcohol and fatigue have something else in common. There is no quick fix for either condition. Only time cures alcohol impairment, and only sleep cures fatigue.<\/p>\n Shortcuts, like cranking up the air conditioner or drinking coffee, are largely ineffective.<\/p>\n In civil court, evidence of fatigue includes erratic driving prior to a wreck, the tortfeasor\u2019s (negligent driver\u2019s) inability to remember the last few miles, the time of day or night, and the tortfeasor\u2019s statements about fatigue.<\/p>\n Back to the pandemic fatigue point.<\/p>\n To cope with the stress and anxiety of COVID-19, many people are taking pills. Supplies of Zoloft and other powerful antidepressants are dangerously low<\/a><\/u>.<\/p>\n Additionally, marijuana is at least semi-legal throughout most of the Tri-State area.<\/p>\n One puff or pill is enough to cause dangerous impairment.<\/p>\n Evidence of impairment includes erratic driving, bloodshot\/glassy eyes, and a DUI\/drugs citation.<\/p>\n Road trips almost always mean GPS navigation devices. Increasingly, people drive with one eye on the road and one eye on a gadget.<\/p>\n Even more disturbingly, they often drive with one hand on the wheel and one hand on a gadget.<\/p>\n Cognitive distraction is one of the leading causes of car crashes<\/a><\/u>. When people use hand-held or hands-free devices, they take their minds off the road.<\/p>\n And, research suggests that these drivers do not fully re-engage with driving for at least thirty seconds. If they look at devices about every thirty seconds, well, you can add.<\/p>\n Manual distraction (taking a hand off the wheel) and visual distraction (taking one\u2019s eyes off the road) are also serious problems.<\/p>\nConfirm Openings<\/h2>\n
Get Lots of Rest<\/h2>\n
Watch Out For These Dangers<\/h2>\n
Fatigued Operators<\/h2>\n
Impaired Drivers<\/h2>\n
Distracted Operators<\/h2>\n