Quote:
Originally Posted by Craig720
As someone who used to live in the Philly area, and understand the nature of the drivers and environment there, perhaps I can help.
Here's what I would have to help the trip go well:
- bottle of water
- plenty of material for one's listening pleasure
- some kind of snack in case of a long delay
- some kind of handsfree kit or headset for the wireless phone
Here's what I would have in my emergency kit for that kind of commute:
- flat tire repair kit
- air pump
- flares or other reflective aids for roadside visibility
- duct tape
- full size spare if there's room
Probably not much need to includes hand tools and such with such a new car. Anything that goes wrong and lets you sit beyond a tire issue is most likely to be a factory defect and going to have to be handled by a mechanic.
IMO, of utmost importance is a good roadside assistance plan. AAA is very good. You insurance company might have something good available too for less. If you go with a plan that reimburses you then make sure you have at least $100 cash as part of your emergency kit. The reason for this is because on the highways around there it is often not safe AT ALL to service your car in the event of a breakdown. For example, if you puncture a tire on the drivers side there may not be enough room on the shoulder to change it. It would be better to call a tow truck. The tow truck driver will arrive and usually park his truck well behind your car with the rull lightbar going while he changes your tire. His lights provide better visibility than you can, and his truck will act as a shield in the event of an accident. I would not worry much about the delay in waiting for a tow truck. In that area there is a mess of them circling around like vultures waiting for something to die.
Regarding the items listed above, I recommend a bottled beverage over anything in a so-called travel cup. Most travel cups or mugs that I've seen can still spill stuff when sitting in any position other than upright. Bottles are best because you can easily open them while driving, can just toss it over on the other seat or wherever when done, and you don't have to worry about it sloshing its contents all over the interior during an emergency maneuver. I recommend water because anything that is caffinated or overly sugared will have an adverse effect on your mood when trying to handle the traffic. More on this later.
For whatever you're going to bring to listen to, make sure it's something you can set up and not have to fiddle with much at all during the trip. If you're taking cassettes or CD's, then put them somewhere you can get at them without having to take your eyes off the road. An MP3 player is a much better option if you can take the time to cue up everything you want to listen to and then leave it alone for the ride, otherwise the interfaces on them are too fiddly to be safely operated while driving.
Regarding the commute itself, I fully understand what you mean by being a "precise" driver but I would urge you to relax a bit and figure out how to read the flow of the traffic around you. Every route has a certain flow to it, and it's own set of quirks. Don't fight it, just learn it and roll with it. This is where laying off the caffine and sugar drinks comes into play, as it keeps the aggression level down when the other guy is having problems with his. Makes it easier to just let it go when someone does something stupid.
Hope this helps.
