I recently finished an 8 day trip traveling from NY to AZ, and it got me thinking about the dangers of traveling cross country.
All in all, traveling cross country can be safe and fun, with a few good habits put into practice. For the most part, I enjoy my trips and find long distance driving interesting. I get to observe the constantly changing geography, cultures, and climates as I cross this massive country!
I’ve made the trip and back a total of 14 times, overnighting mostly in the public parking area of truck stops. They can definitely be sketchy!
The most obvious danger is getting scammed or robbed. Situational awareness is crucial here, and I’ve talked about specific safety measures in my blog, Safety and Security on the Road.
Scammers
On this last trip I had an encounter with a woman who was probably setting me up for some kind of scam. I’d seen her moving her car around in parking lot the night before, and in the morning she approached my van, claiming she needed a jump, and did I have cables? I had to take a phone call, but I gave her my cables and told her if she didn’t find someone to jump her I’d help when I got off the call. Halfway through my call she came back, gave me the cables and said she was getting a tow. (Checking to see if I was really on a call? Assessing my vulnerability as a lone traveler?)
Her initial conversation had already set off warning bells. The next sentences after asking for a jump was that she’d lost her wallet “somewhere in this area,” and that her girlfriend had COPD.
My old naive self would have bought that story hook line and sinker, but it’s a classic scammer ploy to play on human sympathy. That parking lot was full of men with trucks, what looked like a few fireman traveling together, and other travelers that could have easily jumped her, but watching out my window I saw she wasn’t asking anyone else. I also doubt that she had a girlfriend, sure it’s possible, but I think she sized me up and used that as another sympathy card.
Most likely she was looking for an easy mark for some cash.
When I was sharing this story with a friend, she accused me of having trust issues. It’s not that I wouldn’t have helped that woman, but when I explained to her how scammers work, my caution more sense.
Smash and Grabs
I recently bought a strap with a sturdy clip for a phone and small change purse. I love it! My valuables stay close to my body, and It makes it more difficult to grab or get left behind in the rest room. I once had a purse stolen right out of my grocery cart, right under my nose. The thief took it right out of my cart while her partner distracted me by making a fuss over my baby.
Don’t leave valuables in plain sight. A smash and grab is so fast your purse, laptop or other valuables will be gone in seconds. Thieves are opportunists. One night in a truck stop I saw someone at my driver’s side window peering into my van. I was in the back of the van, and thankfully already locked up. When I yelled, “What the fuck are you doing” in the most intimidating voice I could muster, he took off. I didn’t stay in that particular truck stop again.
Weather
On my first trip out years ago, I found myself trying to outrun a severe thunderstorm in Oklahoma! It was a valuable lesson, and now I start checking the weather days before my departure. Crossing tornado alley twice a year keeps me on my toes!
My best defense for severe weather is an App called Drive Weather. The paid version shows you weather on your route for the next 7 days. It hasn’t failed me yet!
I check local weather reports, and the NOAA website for more detailed forecasts, which I learned from the Facebook page Severe Weather For Nomads.
Fatigue
Driving takes a LOT of energy and attention, with constant micro adjustments based on that attention. It took me a few trips to learn how to manage it.
Considering my general stamina I’ve learned to take breaks every two hours, and my absolute daily driving limit is 6 hours.
Other things that help:
OTC eye drops to decrease eyestrain.
Munchies to break the boredom and keep blood sugar levels up.
Sugary snacks. The brain runs on glucose and it helps with alertness on long travel days.
And of course, caffeine!
Trucks
Unfortunately, I’ve found one of the dangers of traveling cross country is the truckers. Don’t come after me, I realize we rely on them, but the pressure to get goods moved on time puts them under considerable stress.
Every single time I’ve driven cross country I’ve been put in danger by big rigs.
I’ve been run off the road more than a few times and had to drive on the shoulder, and it’s not always because I’m in their blind spot. And if you can’t see their side mirrors, you’re in their blind spot.
It’s common to see trucks on the highway weaving across lanes and onto the shoulders, and I get past them as fast as possible, keeping my hand on the horn. It’s saved me more than a few times when they drift into my lane!
On one trip I had a big rig cut from the outside lane, across two lanes in front of me, almost causing a pileup trying to get to his exit. I had to hard brake, and the car following behind me had fender bender when the driver behind them couldn’t stop fast enough. It was a near miss we were all lucky to survive.
Other Drivers
You never know if the driver in front of you on the highway has lost focus, is fatigued, angry, or under the influence, and I’ve learned to predict driving patterns pretty accurately. I watch speed patterns and the direction their tires are drifting. Most drivers unconsciously signal their next move, and I can make a pretty good guess about who’s going to be impatient and pull out in front of me.
Road Rage
Anything that causes distracted driving is dangerous. Disclaimer, I have road rage. It’s a terrible energy drain. It floods your body with fight or flight hormones, can make you aggressive towards other drivers inviting their road rage, wears you out, and causes you to lose focus.
My ex partner used to tell me don’t give anybody the finger! Now I just do it under the dash so they can’t see it. Most of the time.
Happy travels!
