I have to drive cross country but I hate driving

[Anonymous]

You may also want to consider the time spent driving. I can't even imagine how long it'd take to cross the country using back roads - twice as long? Three times?

The simple fact you'll be driving far longer increases your odds of being in an accident (esp. because you'll be that much more tired).

[Anonymous]

How about taking a defensive driving course and then going?

If that is not your thing - bringing a friend who is comfortable driving on the highways and flying them back?

[Anonymous]

Audio books are the way to make driving palatable to me. Plus, stopping every three hours no matter what. Getting out walking around, stretching, getting something to eat and drink and filling up the gas tank.

Sarah Vowel's book on Lafayette got us to West Lafayette and back. Funny and informative.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How about taking a defensive driving course and then going?

If that is not your thing - bringing a friend who is comfortable driving on the highways and flying them back?

This. Find someone to drive you or even just to drive your car while you fly. I had someone drive my car from DC to Atlanta once and it wasn't that expensive.

[Anonymous]

OP, driving cross county on the interstate takes 10 days?

By back roads do you mean state highways? Or real back roads?

Once you get out of highly populated areas I feel divided interstate is much safer than single lane state highways with oncoming traffic in the adjacent lane. And state hwy speed can be 50 at least.

[Anonymous]

You are SIGNIFICANTLY safer driving on an interstate than you are on some back country road. Like, it's not even comparable.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, driving cross county on the interstate takes 10 days?

By back roads do you mean state highways? Or real back roads?

Once you get out of highly populated areas I feel divided interstate is much safer than single lane state highways with oncoming traffic in the adjacent lane. And state hwy speed can be 50 at least.

Absolutely correct.

Traffic safety guy wrote:
Undivided high speed (i.e., above 45 mph) roads are the most dangerous kinds of roads frequently found in the United States; they have the highest fatality rates because they are diametric to best practices. Hurling two vehicles at each other and expecting them to pass each other with inches to spare without any kind of barrier whatsoever would sound like a bad idea to anyone in theory, yet this is precisely what these roads are in practice. Best practices dictates avoiding such roads if they have speed limits above 43 mph. Because speed limits in the US are based in 5 mph increments, this means avoiding undivided roads with speed limits above 40 mph whenever possible, especially if there’s only one available lane in each direction.

If you need to drive on such a road, do your best to drive at or below 43 mph. And if you have multiple lanes to choose from, choose the outermost one. This won’t keep you from getting into a head-on collision by a distracted or inebriated driver who drifts into your lane, but it might give you vital seconds to slow down or steer out of the way, and sometimes, that’s all it takes to make the difference between life and death.

Why 43 mph? Because that's what best practices for road safety dictate should be the PSL for undivided roads. Beyond that, the injury / fatality risk shoots way up. It's also why frontal crash tests are conducted at 40 mph; cars aren't designed to protect you at higher speeds.

[Anonymous]

I love driving. I could go with you and do all the driving for a little road sex. Are you female?

[Anonymous]

Please turn your hazards on and go 40 MPH in these small towns; those cops will love you!

You say you've done this trip multiple times... so what did you do those times??

I've seen three dead bodies in my lifetime and all three were from traffic accidents at low speeds on smaller roads. Although, to be fair, one was a motorcyclist, so his protection from the wreck was nil.

[Anonymous]

I think the highways in many parts of the country won't be very crowded. I drove to New Orleans and that was certainly the case. I would much prefer that to back roads which are windy and where I have to pay a lot of attention to making a wrong turn (which I'm apt to do). All that said though - and I think you should fly and ship the car and stuff.

[Anonymous]

Find a buddy! You might be surprised which of your friends would say yes. I did for my friend - flew out to meet her and drove the car back here and we had a blast.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I love driving. I could go with you and do all the driving for a little road sex. Are you female?

Gross

[Anonymous]

Just ship the car. Driving on hilly back roads, particularly in a small car loaded down with stuff is not going to be something you're comfortable with. Plus back roads in much of the country mean you will be far away from help (and sometimes even away from a cell signal).

[Anonymous]

I'm not planning to go slow on the highway, which is why I want to avoid highways and am taking back roads.

The "back roads" of which you speak are also highways, they're just not interstate highways. And you can't put your hazards on and drive 40 mph on those either. Out west people will be driving 70-75 on those.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Highway driving is actually the safest kind of driving per mile.

I can definitely believe this, but I grew up city driving and highway driving makes me nervous. I also have a small car, that wouldnt fare too well if I crashed going 70 mph. Hence, I want to go on roads where I can go slower. And the aforementioned fully loaded car, which means I necessarily have to drive slow in case I have to brake suddenly.

No car will protect you at 70 mph. Whether you drive a big honking SUV or a minicar, you are almost certainly going to die in a 70 mph crash. Most people don't understand this, which is part of why most people speed.

www.thecarcrashdetective.com/2016/04/why-higher-speed-limits-decrease-safety.html/

Thanks. This confirms what I already know. I am a very safe driver, but I can't control what the SUV is going to do in the next lane over. While this is also true at 40 mph, there is less of a chance of a fatality, and I have more reaction time.

I guess that makes me a freak in the eyes of DCUM, but I'm okay with it considering I reach my destination safely.

You are not a safe driver. You've been fortunate so far but your timidity and fear actually make you more prone to make poor decisions in unexpected road situations. Take a defensive driving class as suggested, take a buddy or ship your car.