Useful Tips For Traveling This Spring
Photo credit: Champion Traffic School.
Steps to Drive Safely this Spring
Whether you’re taking a sedan to the airport, a party bus to a wedding, or even driving yourself to visit family this spring and summer, here’s some tips to make your travels more efficient helpful links. These tips can help save you money, time and keep you safe. This article will guide you to some popular transportation resources to make your trip smoother.
Flight Tracker:
Online flight trackers allow you to check the status of your incoming flight to cut down on wait times for pickups and drop offs. Before you head out to the airport, take a minute to double check the status of your flight to verify the correct times. Knowing this information can help you to plan your time and transportation accordingly. Aristocat Transportation and the majority of chauffeured transportation companies use flight tracker to save you money at the airport!
Construction Alerts:
Not all GPS devices and apps give real time status updates on construction sites. Check your specific route for construction and drive times before you leave to save yourself time and frustration in metro Detroit and surrounding areas. Construction traffic can definitely be frustrating if you are caught unawares. Websites like the Michigan Department of Tansportation will post updates on construction zones. MiDrive is an interactive map that lets you see accidents, constructions, and traffic cams all over Michigan. MiDrive is powered by the Michigan Department of Transportation and is highly accurate and reliable.
Gas Prices:
Look up local and surrounding gas station prices en route to your location. By using the gas price table, you can find the best prices for gas and figure out where to fill up! Also look into reward cards offered by certain gas station companies and grocery store chains. These rewards card are usually free and rack up points every time you buy! The points can be added up to money off of your gas fill up.
Spring Driving Safety
Rain is a common spring driving hazard or even in some areas last hurrah snow showers. While most people think of ice or snow when cautioned about slippery roads, the truth is wet roads can be just as slick. Tires can hydroplane on a layer of water, losing contact with the road and causing the vehicle to skid. Rain lifts oil and other slippery fluids, dripped by passing autos, creating a slick layer on the blacktop. Flooded roads can flood out engines. Slow down on wet roads and keep some space between yourself and the car ahead of you. This is especially true during downpours, which decreases driver visibility.
Also, replace worn tires to have better control. Worn out treads provide less traction and greater chance to slide. Likewise, make sure tires are inflated properly according to your vehicle’s owner’s manual.
Spring Vehicle Safety Checklist:
- Check and replace worn wiper blades. Poorly maintained windshield wipers can hamper visibility in poor weather.
- Check all fluids. In the cold months, fluids are easily depleted as your car works harder.
- Check or top off or replace the brake fluid, the transmission fluid, coolant, power steering fluid and windshield washer fluid.
- Check brakes. After a winter of heavy braking to avoid ice, be sure to check your brakes.
Spring rain also can dampen visibility, so it is important to check all vehicle lighting.
This includes:
- Head lights
- Tail lights
- Flood lights
- Rear lights
- Turn signals
- Parking lights
- Brake lights
- Interior and dashboard lights
These lights are important not only because they help you to see, but also serve as a way to help you communicate clearly with other motorists.
Posted on April 3rd, 2013 in Useful Tips.