Is commuting to campus worth the benefits?
Posted on Oct 10, 2012 in Features
Commuting may be a great financial benefit, but in order to receive a positive commuting experience, drivers must be prepared for anything.
Firstly, drivers must be prepared for: rain, traffic, other cars, motorcycles, etc. A great way to make sure you are safe on the road is to be sure to check your mirrors throughout the drive. This insures that drivers know where everyone else is on the road, so in case something happens, drivers can know where to go and how to react.
Also, always make sure your lights are working: headlights, flood lights, blinkers, break lights, and tag lights. Every light on a car is beneficial for car owners as it assures that your car is always seen. Lights are especially important during rain. Windshield wipers are a must need. Rain- X will never provide enough clarity to drive during heavy rain. Windshield wipers should be frequently checked and replaced as needed.
Another great way to be prepared while commuting is keeping your car/truck stocked with necessities and kept clean. A clean car will always help with carrying things back and forth to campus.
Commuting students should also keep a First Aid Kit in their car at all times in case something happens on campus that you help yourself to handling. Going to CVS and buying things you already have can be a hassle. First Aid Kits will allow students to handle cuts, scraps, small burns, and minor sprains. Along with a First Aid Kit, students should keep medicines in their car, too. Some medicines will melt in the car, so be careful with what type of pill is bought.
Another smart thing to keep in your car is a change of clothes. Alabama weather is crazy and no one can ever know when it will start raining or suddenly get hotter than you planned.
In case of rain, keep an umbrella, dry clothes, and a rain coat in your truck or in the back of your cab. If you get drenched, changing into dry clothes will reduce your chances of getting sick. It’s also a good idea to keep an extra t-shirt, too, in case it suddenly gets hot, or the shirt you were originally wearing gets dirty. If you have room and want to make sure you have everything, extra shoes can also be useful; rain boots, flip-flops, etc.
CDs and gum are both great things to keep handy. Certain CDs are great for helping you wake up in the morning and keeping you awake at night. Sleepy drivers are dangerous drives. Every person has different music preferences. For some people, the radio works just as well as any CD. Just make sure it’s upbeat, catchy, and something you can sing along to. Gum or hard candies are also a great way to keep you awake at night. By chewing on something, your body will wake up and help you focus on the road.
Of course, there are the obvious rules or commuting: park in the right lot, buckle up, do not send text messages, limit phone calls, and most of all pay attention to everything within your own car and around you.
Laurie Christolear
Contributor
christolear@uab.edu