Here in the United States, it's Labor Day Weekend, the last long weekend of summer. According to AAA, 33 million Americans will travel this weekend, about 85% by car.
If you'll be one of them, use these driving tips to reach your destination safely:
- Stay calm. Heavy traffic and impatient drivers just don't mix. Road rage can ruin more than a weekend getaway. About five percent of traffic related deaths are attributed to aggressive driving. That number grows every year.
- Don't text and drive. Many states, most recently Ohio, have passed bans on texting and driving, for good reason. More than 6,000 people were killed on U.S. roadways in 2010 due to texting and driving. Last weekend, as I traveled home from Alabama, in ten minutes I spotted four people texting and driving, one of them a commercial truck driver. How? The vehicles, including that 18 wheeler, drifted out of the driving lane and then jerked back. Every time! As we drove past (our goal to get beyond the hazard), I peered into the vehicle to watch those drivers focus on their phones.
- Pack wisely. Overloaded and improperly packed cars can cause accidents too. On a recent trip, I watched, shocked, as the soft-sided luggage carrier flew off the top of a minivan. The vehicles behind swerved to miss the flying luggage. Beyond that, an overloaded vehicle handles slower and carries an increased risk of bottoming out. Carry only what's needed and secure exterior carriers according to manufacturer's instructions.
Not traveling this year? Don't let Labor Day Weekend pass by without enjoying some of it! Yes, the home improvement stores offer great sales this weekend (my husband asked if I want to go). Carve out just a little time for the family, though. It is the last "official" weekend of summer, after all.
- Visit a museum. The first weekend of the month, Bank of America offers free admission to more than 150 museums across the country. Visit one near you.
- Hike a trail. Visit a park or nature trail nearby and enjoy the great outdoors. These accessible parks are stroller friendly, great for families with young children.
- Make a splash. Most community pools close after Labor Day. Take advantage of this last weekend of summer and make a splash.
Our family is celebrating the three day weekend by making the most of our Saturday. If we didn't have a plan, we'd probably waste the day watching home improvement shows and uninteresting football (I love football, but my team isn't televised where I live this weekend).
- A special breakfast of yogurt, fresh fruit and "fried banana bread," homemade banana bread, lightly buttered and fried in a skillet. The outside is crispy and buttery and the inside is warm and gooey. YUM!
- A visit to the Nasher Museum of Art at Duke University, one of those 150 free museums!
- A picnic lunch at the Duke Gardens (may as well make the most of the drive to Durham!)
- An evening of grilling and "campfire" in the back yard (Eastern NC may be the one place in the country not recovering from drought or hurricanes right now).
Labor Day Weekend means one last blast of summer! What will you do with yours?
Happy Travels!
12 comments:
I've seen an 18-wheeler go out of lane while texting too. Ridiculous, isn't it?
I'm all for the phone in the trunk 'til you get there theory.
I'm glad you posted that on your list, it's a good reminder. NO TEXTING while driving.
These ideas are so great. (I love the banana bread idea!! I have some millet banana bread that I bet would make good "french toast". I also love how you included hiking. If one more person I know talks about the beach I am going to scream!!! I hope people also take you up on the museum idea. It's sad so few people still visit them!
Karen.. I just love your posts... As the years have passed I have learned to stay home and enjoy family and the beauties of our own cities.. that and the need of a vacation after a three day weekend. Grace, peace and blessings, Carla
I'm hoping our sweet little daughter-in-law who is more than 2 weeks over due will go in to LABOR this Labor Day weekend...lol
Detox Diva, the last place I want to be this weekend is the beach!!!! It's going to be so crowded! Not to mention, expensive. Gas prices. OY!
Becky Jane,
You may have the BEST Labor Day weekend plans of us all. Enjoy that precious bundle, whenever he or she finally decides to make an appearance!
Blessings to you and yours, especially your DIL,
Karen
Mail 4 Rosey,
The 18-wheeler last weekend scared me more than most. She drifted right, then left (into our lane), and then made a hard jerk to the right in heavy traffic. Even as we sped past AFTER all the bad driving, she was STILL looking at her phone. I wish I had the truck and safety call number. I wonder what the highway patrol does with call-ins on erratic driving?
Karen
We'll be enjoying family time at the local county fair, watching a pee wee football game while our daughter cheers for the team, and having a back to school hotdog and smores party for our kids with good friends. Throw in church on Sunday and hopefully a lazy Monday and it should make for a great weekend! :)
Great ideas! We will be busy packing and moving for Labor Day! Fun fun =)
Good luck to everyone traveling this weekend! We hit the road late last night and missed the traffic, so we are happily (and without stress) at our destination!
Hope you're having a wonderful weekend! :)
We are off visiting with family this weekend. We were lucky to miss a lot of traffic on our way here; hope we can miss some of it on the way home, too!
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