Bulgari invited us to spend the weekend at their recently-opened 85 room hotel and spa in London’s suitably posh Kensington neighborhood, right next door to Cutler &…
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Traveling through the backcountry on foot can be a uniquely masochistic enterprise. What seems like a minor discomfort after an hour can easily turn into a major inconvenience, or even an injury, after several days, but even the smallest tinkering can significantly improve…
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Places like Portland, Vancouver or Copenhagen may be the first that pop to mind when thinking about cities whose residents successfully combine a progressive attitude with a laid back approach to life. But slowly sneaking onto the scene is Columbus—Ohio’s industrious state capital and one of the world’s smartest cities,…
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Operating under the belief that getting outside should be fun and easy rather than intimidating, San Francisco-based outdoors company Alite Designs foregoes expensive, specialized gear for woodsy pursuits in favor of the lightweight recordOutboundLink(this,…
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Whether you lost yours last summer and need a replacement pair, or you are simply looking to up your swim style game this year, you may want to take a look at Everest Isles’ soon-to-launch Mayol…
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Originally released in the fall of 2012, the Momentum headphone from German audio masters Sennheiser was recently updated with black leather and finished with red stitching. Much like the elegant P5 from Bowers & Wilkins—a…
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Held at the beautifully historic Grand Palais, the 2013 edition of the Art Paris Art Fair seemed fixated on distorting reference points, by playing with illusions and optical tricks. Among the group of 144 international galleries we encountered work featuring blurred, masked and…
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We all know the adage, Greenland is icy and Iceland is green. But really, not many know much more of the large island nation inhabited by just 320,000 people. On our most recent trip to Iceland to visit the capital city of Reykjavik for ); return…
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At home or in the office our day begins with the all-important cup of coffee, so even when we’re on the road we’re not willing to compromise. While in Reykjavik for DesignMarch we were tipped off…
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Over the weekend, I watched Ultimate Armored Car: The Presidential Beast and learned a lot about the security features on the President of the United States’ vehicle. It’s called “The Beast” for many reasons, including armored windows, a fuel tank surrounded by foam (so that it can’t explode), run-flat tires, along with a host of other features — all of which are designed to keep the occupants (up to seven) safe. This special car has been around since the 1930s and I suspect its specifications have improved over the years.
While most people don’t need a car like “The Beast,” you still need to be sure that your vehicle is operating optimally. There are also a few things you should do to ensure that no matter how you travel, you’ll get to your destination safely.
If your car is well maintained, it will be safer to drive. You’ll need to make sure that all the parts of your car (like the engine, windows, lights, belts, tires, etc.) are in good working order. Keep with the maintenance schedule as noted in your vehicles’s manual. Not sure where to find your car’s manual? You should be able to find it on your vehicle’s manufacturer’s website if you don’t know where to locate the copy that came with your car. You can also visit Edmunds.com to get the maintenance schedule as well as the estimated costs for your car’s specific make and model (you’ll need to know this information along with the year, current mileage, and a few other details). Also, check for safety recalls at SaferCar.gov.
Before leaving for your destination, figure where you need to go and how long it will take for you to get there. Google Maps is a good resource for getting directions and alternate routes in advance (even if you will ultimately use a GPS unit). This will help you get ready and arrive on time without feeling stressed and reduce your temptation to speed or drive aggressively.
You should also stock up on emergency supplies (mylar blanket, emergency kit, snacks, water, map) just in case things don’t go as planned.
This tip is well known but it’s still a good reminder. Drive only when you’re alert and keep in mind that some medications can affect your vision, decision making ability, and reaction time. If you’re feeling sleepy or are otherwise impaired, do not get behind the wheel. Give the keys to someone else (who is unimpaired) or make alternate plans. And, make a habit of putting your mobile phone out of reach so that you’re not tempted to text while driving. The same goes for makeup — put it on before you leave the house, not while you’re driving.
What does having an uncluttered car have to do with car safety? Well, when you have lots of things in your car, they can become projectiles in the event of an accident. Use your trunk to store things you’re traveling with (like groceries, gym bag) and keep loose items inside the console and storage compartments. Something else to keep in mind — you can also become a projectile if you’re not buckled in, so you should wear your seat belt at all times.
Need help getting organized? Buy the DRM-free audiobook version of Erin Rooney Doland’s Unclutter Your Life in One Week today for only $8.99.
This is site is run by Sascha Endlicher, M.A., during ungodly late night hours. Wanna know more about him? Connect via Social Media by jumping to about.me/sascha.endlicher.
