Tips & Advice

At The Hartford, we know that a fast, easy commute is one way to ensure your life remains uninterrupted. And there are all sorts of things that can interrupt your daily drive – construction, auto accidents, weather conditions, and even the condition of the roadways. Here are a few tips you can consider to help you experience a drive with fewer interruptions so you can better enjoy your time behind the wheel.

Tip 1: Avoid the fast lane.

By using the center or right lane on multi-lane roads, you may have more “escape routes” should you encounter a problem that requires you to quickly change lanes or pull onto the shoulder. Most highway accidents occur in the left lane.

Tip 2: Think before you dial.

Avoid making cell phone calls while driving a vehicle, as even hands-free devices cause a driving safety risk. Cell phone use creates a distraction that detracts from the brain’s ability to focus on safe driving.

Tip 3: The nighttime is not the right time.

You may think that driving at night will help you avoid traffic. But nighttime driving brings its own set of hazards, including the effects of fatigue, decreased fields of vision, and joyriding revelers who may be on the road.

Tip 4: Do your homework.

Poor road conditions contribute to more than half of all fatalities on the road. So invest the extra time to identify where streets are under construction or repair in your city, and find alternate routes to reach your destination.

Tip 5: Keep on the lookout.

Most drivers focus their attention 5-8 seconds ahead while moving down the road. But if you’ll focus farther ahead – about 15-20 seconds – you’ll be able to spot potential hazards sooner and avoid potential accidents and slow-downs.

Tip 6: Be flexible

Think about shifting your commute time 30 minutes in either direction. Even a few minutes can make a difference in traffic levels on crowded roadways. If your employer allows flexible hours, take advantage of it.

Tip 7: Time for a tune-up.

Keep your vehicle in excellent operating condition. You don’t want to be slowed down by an overheated engine, worn-out tire or malfunctioning brake light.

1.	How do you handle a pothole?

	Go around it

	Straddle it

	Drive through it

2.	What emotion does a pothole create?

	Fear

	Anxiety

	Pleasure

3.	What one word describes a pothole?

	Nuisance

	Challenge

	Fun

You are a Pothole Avoider. You hate potholes and will do anything to avoid them.

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Fun Fact 1 of 10

Driving on rough roads costs the average American motorist approximately $400 per year in additional vehicle operating costs.

A group of undergrads at M.I.T. recently had the idea of harnessing the shock of hitting potholes as an energy source to power cars on the road.

Cuban President Fidel Castro once commented on the "enormous potholes" he encountered when riding into New York City from the airport.

A U.S. study estimated that vehicle repairs for damage caused by potholes and other dangerous road conditions cost $4.8 billion annually.

In a 1997 episode of the television series "Seinfeld" called "The Pothole," George Costanza accidentally drops his Phil Rizzuto keychain into a pothole, which is subsequently filled.

The term "pothole" was first used to describe a road hazard in 1826. In Britain, "pothole" also means a deep cave.

There is a well-known sport fishing location in Missouri called the Pothole. In both Pennsylvania and Washington, there are state parks with "pothole" in the name.

The final verse of the Beatles song "A Day in the Life" references a January 1967 newspaper report about thousands of potholes in Blackburn, Lancashire.

In the Ukraine, "the world's largest pothole" caused by a sinkhole was large enough to swallow an entire Volkswagen Golf.

A Pennsylvania company has invented a $300,000 machine known as the "Pothole Killer," which enables one worker to fill up to 100 potholes a day.

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