&gt; I haven't been on either route except in the <BR>
&gt; extreme western ends for a number of years but I <BR>
&gt; can't imagine why your parents think one would be <BR>
&gt; safer than the other. I-10 will have a lot more <BR>
&gt; desert to pass through (scenic in its own way) <BR>
&gt; and I-40 will have the mountains of northern New <BR>
&gt; Mexico and Arizona. IMO, which route to take is a <BR>
&gt; question of which kind of landscape you prefer to <BR>
&gt; see.<BR>
&gt; <BR>
&gt; An alternate route, which appears just <BR>
&gt; looking at a map to be a bit shorter, would be <BR>
&gt; I-20 from Birmingham to it's junction with I-10 <BR>
&gt; in western Texas then I-10 into San <BR>
&gt; Diego.<BR>
&gt; <BR>
&gt; Have a wonderful trip. <BR>
<BR>