Long Drive to Campus: Some Tips before Summer C

By Scott Drew on June 26, 2015

Summer C semester begins this Monday, June 29th, which means a whole bunch of new freshman will be coming up for their first semester of college. Right now, they are probably looking forward to the freedom away from parents and the exciting new journeys that they will embark on, but I’m sure that they are not looking forward to the moving in process.

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FSU, being a State school, has a lot of incoming students that already live in or around Florida, making driving to school much more convenient than flying. Although driving may be more convenient and less expensive, it is definitely a longer process. For example, I have been driving from Miami to Tallahassee, and visa-versa, every semester for the past four years. This one-way trip with minimal traffic takes me seven hours and it has taken me as long as nine and a half hours to make the trip during heavy traffic.

After having driven this route and many others to get to and from the Tallahassee area, I have learned all of the tricks and tips to make the lengthy drive bearable.

The first step to having a pleasant drive across the state is preparation. Preparation for the drive entails a variety of things from getting road snacks to getting a proper night’s sleep beforehand. This is something that should be given thought at least 24 hours in advance. I, personally, like to make a checklist to keep track of as I pack my car.

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It is very important to not over pack the car. If any windows or mirrors are being blocked, then this could impede your driving substantially, bringing risk on yourself and those around you. Also, make sure that nothing is too loose so that there will be no shifting of objects during the drive.

The final preparation is the purchase of gasoline. I have found that filling my tank up prior to getting on the highway makes the beginning of the drive much more relaxing, not having to worry about getting gas soon after getting on my way.

I try to leave around eight o’clock in the morning in order to beat the rest of the students who will be on the road also traveling up to school. The later in the day it gets, the worse the traffic gets.

Once I am on the road, I only stop once, which is only to refill on gas and use the facilities if needed. I do this for a few reasons, the main one being time conservation. The drive is already seven hours long without me adding on time by lollygagging around at a rest stop or something. Making quick pit stops is also important because it keeps you ahead of traffic.

As for entertainment, I have found that listening to the same music that one always listens does not cut it for a lengthy drive like this. In fact, for a drive that is more than four hours, I would suggest not listening to music for the most part. Instead, listen to something with a little more substance and content. Some of the best things to listen to on your long drives are podcasts and audio books. The great thing about these forms of entertainment is that, like most, there is a wide selection for all types of tastes.

If podcasts and audio books are too much of a commitment, listening to comedy on Pandora is a great way to pass the time. One of the great aspects of the app Pandora that is not utilized enough is its selection of comedians and their stand-up routines. Select a comedian and listen to a whole variety of like-minded comedians that Pandora thinks that you will enjoy.

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When it comes to avoiding cops and speed traps, I cannot help you much. You just need to be responsible with your driving and know that they will be waiting for you to slip up. The police know when the semesters begin and place extra police vehicles along the highways in order to catch young students who are driving too fast. They are also out in numbers because of the high accident rates during these times. Because of this high accident rate window of time, it is important to not only be aware of your own driving, but that of the people around you.

Finally, I suggest not driving alone, whether that means driving with a passenger or even a pet. Driving with someone else in the car seems to cut the dullness of the situation by a substantial amount, even if that person is not particularly chatty. Driving for several hours can get extremely tiring, so to have the option of switching drivers to give one person a rest is very significant. Having a passenger also puts an added sense of responsibility to drive carefully. Not only is your life at risk, but also the life of your passenger.

If you are not traveling with a passenger and you feel as if you are getting too tired to drive, please pull over and find a motel to take a quick nap in because there is no need to put yourself or others at risk.

 

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