Tips For Colorado Summer Road Trips

Here’s what most of us want from a summer road trip in Colorado: spectacular scenery, an opportunity to commune with nature and wildlife, adventure, relaxation, a chance to recharge and look at the world differently. Unfortunately, the journey can be marred by conditions we all try to avoid: traffic, crowds, too much sun (or not enough), detours and delays, and so on.

The perfect road trip may be as elusive as a Preble’s Meadow jumping mouse, but a little preparation can greatly improve your chances of avoiding unpleasant surprises. Here are some steps you can take to make your next road trip memorable for all the right reasons.

GET YOUR RIDE READY

Today’s vehicles require less maintenance than ever before, but it’s a good idea to take a look under the hood before embarking on any trip of more than a hundred miles.  Is the radiator cap on firmly? No signs of leaks? No cracks in belts or hoses? Fluid levels topped off?

If you’re due for an oil change or an air filter, get that taken care of before you depart. You should also take time to perform a general safety inspection or have one done for you at a trusted garage. This should include a good look at the tires (tread wear and pressure), brakes, lights, battery, and transmission.

Finally, no overnight trip in sunny, semi-arid Colorado should be undertaken without packing essential items — water, sunscreen, high-energy snacks, cell phone and charger, extra clothing and hats — and an emergency kit. The kit should include basic tools (jumper cables, screwdriver, flashlight, etc.) and first-aid supplies.

PLAN AHEAD

Savvy road warriors know not to schedule more sightseeing than they accomplish in a reasonable amount of time. They build in a cushion of time for possible road work delays or to explore odd diversions that might not be on the original itinerary.

The Colorado Department of Transportation’s Travel Center can assist you in scouting road conditions and identifying routes you want to avoid. If your destination is a popular one, call ahead to the local tourist bureau to find out the best times to visit to beat the crowds. Have a backup route in mind if your original plan goes awry.

Even better, consider checking out some sights that don’t make everybody’s top-ten list; make an effort to get off the interstate and see some of Colorado’s scenic byways. You can build a trip around national parks, hot springs , roadside attractions, historic sites — the possibilities are as endless as the road ahead.

RESPECT THE TERRAIN

If your plans include getting on some hiking trails, be sure you have maps, navigational tools (your phone may not have a signal in the backcountry), food, water, bug repellent, extra layers of clothing, and other essential gear. Even a short day hike can be full of surprises, given the ever-changing weather in Colorado’s high country — or on the eastern plains, for that matter. Take time to review the basic survival tips every hiker should know, such as notifying others of your hike plans and not starting out too late in the day.

AFTER YOUR TRIP

After putting all those miles on the family chariot, go through your car maintenance checklist again to make sure oil, tire pressure, and the rest are still okay. Schedule any needed vehicle maintenance and a car wash before returning to the workday world, memories, and photos intact.

Safety Tip: Blind Spots And How To Fix Them

It happens hundreds of times a day, hundreds of thousands of times a year. A driver attempts to change lanes — and ends up in a sideswipe collision with another vehicle, thanks to a blind spot. According to one study by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, nearly one in five of all accidents involve drivers changing lanes and crashing into other vehicles they didn’t see.

Common as they are, blind-spot accidents are also highly preventable. Employing just a little extra preparation, awareness and caution could save the motoring public considerable expense and trauma. Here are a few simple tips for avoiding blind spots while driving.

ARE BLIND SPOTS FIXABLE?

Many people tend to treat blind spots as a design defect of their car. The rear end is too high, the windows are too small, the headrests block the view — sound familiar? It’s true that just about every vehicle is going to present different challenges for drivers trying to keep track of what’s behind them and especially on their flanks. But auto engineering has made great strides in the past two decades in eliminating many design-related blind spots in passenger cars. With seats and especially mirrors properly adjusted, you, too, can conquer blind spots.

THE KEY TO AVOIDING BLIND SPOTS

One of the leading causes of blind spots has to do with improper mirror alignment. Many people keep their side mirrors focused on a narrow corridor along the left and right sides of their own car. While it may be comforting to see the immediate vicinity of your car’s back doors in the mirror, that also leaves a substantial area in the adjoining lanes not visible to you. The Society of Automotive Engineers recommends adjusting those mirrors outward, so you can see that area in the “danger zone” to the left and right of your rear quarters.

Ideally, the adjustment should provide a seamless viewing experience as you scan your rear-view mirror and then your side mirrors for traffic behind and on either side of you. You can test the adjustment by taking a spin and seeing if vehicles approaching you from behind show up in your side mirror as they disappear from the rear-view mirror; if there aren’t any gaps in that transition, you’ve gotten rid of the blind spot.

If that simple step doesn’t solve your problem, you can also consider adopting some of the wonders of anti-blind-spot technology offered by many automakers. Ford, for example, now has convex integrated blind-spot mirrors incorporated in its side mirrors on several models. Rear cameras are standard in many cars and can eradicate potentially hazardous blind spots when backing up in one’s own driveway. There are also blind spot sensors and a range of aftermarket products that can enhance your ability to assess traffic conditions around you.

But don’t let the technology lull you into not doing a careful visual check before changing lanes. Many people overdo this by looking completely back over their shoulder, taking their eyes off the road in front of them — a risky maneuver, if the driver in front of you happens to brake at that moment. Driving experts advise turning your head no more than ninety degrees in either direction, enough to get a quick peripheral view of approaching traffic, before making your move. It is highly recommended to seek personalized legal advice and expert guidance from an experienced automobile lawyer when it comes to ensuring safe driving practices and navigating the complexities of traffic laws.

Finally, one other piece of advice. Be aware of other drivers’ blind spots, too, and try to stay out of them. If you can’t see the mirrors of that 18-wheeler you’ve been shadowing for the past two miles, chances are the truck driver can’t see you, either, and could change lanes right into you.

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