Ever just get in your car, fasten the seat belt, and continue on your way without any thought that you might never make it to your destination? How do you know which areas have the most Traffic Accidents if you are just driving through?
As a Real Estate Agent I drive a lot.....and I used to think I was a good driver. But just one small mishap can change everything forever. Many times we have to drive in areas we are unfamiliar with. We drive in rush hour traffic, bad weather: dust storms, wind storms, rain and snow storms. Whatever it takes to do our jobs. One thing I have learned is to not just pay attention to the road, drive according to the conditions, but also know where the LOCAL shortcuts are in case of emergency.
Don't let Driving in an unfamiliar area do this to YOU.
Pay extra attention to:
Construction areas
Hills that might have burned and are subject to mudslides during a rainstorm.
If driving in the Desert watch for Dust Storms, and or flash flood areas.
Pay extra attention to traffic rules in different cities, ie: turns on Red Lights, one way streets, u-turn rules, etc.
Use a Hands Free Device for your CELL Phone.
For anyone driving from (or to) Los Angeles through the Desert here are some of our LOCAL Conditions:
Driving along the I-10 Freeway between Beaumont and Indio gusty winds and sand storms contribute to Traffic Accidents. In the past few months there have been several accidents caused by speeding, gusty winds, and especially the heavy flow of Big Rigs either coming or going up the grade. Recently There have been several bad accidents, some fatal, in the Whitewater, CA area.
This particular stretch of the I-10 Freeway has seen an increase in accidents lately. And one of the biggest problems for us, the commuter, is if you have passed the Highway 62 cut-off, or the Haugen-Lehmann Exit.....you are stuck. Sometimes for hours......
Tips:
1. If you are traveling West from Palm Springs you can take the Haugen-Lehmann Exit , turn left, and take the road along the Freeway (see photo) This will bring you out by Fields Road.
2. Do NOT drive parallel to Big Rigs....they have a tendancey to sway, or change lanes quickly, boxing you in.
3. The 2 exits for the Outlet Malls and the Casino (Fields Road, and Seminole Drve) can be confusing...Seminole Drvie is like a puzzle, pay particular attention to which lane you end up in as to which way you can turn, and when.
4. There is a Truck Scale just west of Fields Road....be careful here...trucks merge in and out of the right hand lane.
Driving from Whitewater towards Palm Springs the Santa Ana Winds often rip through this area. Hwy. 62towards Joshua Tree, Desert Hot Springs, and Twentynine Palms can be treaturous. Also beware of cars merging from the residential areas of Painted Hills and Desert Hot Springs. Unfortunetly this isn't the first Manufactured Home that has blown over because of the Winds. Also beware if there is an accident on the I-10, traffic can be backed up here for hours as well.
Watch your speed..the Speed Limit is 70 mph, but most of the Drivers are going around 80 mph..or more. Cars traveling the Speed Limit are almost as dangerous as the ones speeding.
Whether a Tourist in an unfamiliar area, or someone that Drives for a Living.....we want to make sure we get to our destination safely. DRIVE SAFE.........
***National Teen Driving Safety Week October 15th
By: Kathy McGraw - CELLing Realty
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