How to Prepare to Drive in Bad Traffic

Driving is always stressful, but when traffic is bad, the level of difficulty increases. You may feel stressed, but with a few techniques, you will be prepared for your trip and any heavy traffic situations you may encounter. Follow these tips to prepare to drive in bad traffic.

Instructions

1. Plan your route. Using a road atlas, which can be found at a bookstore, or the Internet, review the roads you will travel and the exact directions you'll need to get there.

2. Check for traffic problems before you depart. Listen to local radio stations, watch television news broadcasts or check a traffic website for updates on the specific roads you will be traveling on.

3. Brush up on your defensive driving skills. Learning strategies for merging, navigating different types of roadways and handling stop-and-go traffic situations helps take the stress out of driving in bad traffic.

4. Give your car a thorough check-up. Traffic, especially bumper to bumper traffic, is hard on vehicles. Be sure your tires are fully inflated, all of your fluids are full and all signals and lights are functioning properly.

5. Stock up on some great music. Sometimes, bad traffic is inevitable given your route, but you can make the drive a little more pleasant if you're jamming to your favorite tunes.

6. Research an alternate route. Although it may not be the shortest distance to get you where you're going, bad traffic can lengthen your trip considerably and it's always a good idea to know another way to your destination.

Tips & Warnings

• Always switch your cell phone to silent mode or turn it off when preparing to drive in bad traffic. Even if you typically use a hands-free headset to talk while driving, the distraction of a conversation is best left for a less stressful drive.

Resources

• Check local traffic problems and updates online at Traffic.com.
• Plan your route online at MapQuest.com.