20yr old girl driving 800 miles by herself? any adice?

Question

im driving from dallas tx to atlanta georgia soon....im kinda nervous being a girl and ive never driven more than 2hrs by myself before. this is a 800 mile drive about 12 hours....please give advice

its either a long 200$ drive or a short plane ride that cost 450$

im mostly scared of A) getting completely lost and B) getting...kidnapped(sounds lame but i am!!)

Answer 1

Make sure you have a roadside emergency kit in your car. (Flashlight, jumper cables, pancho, batteries for flashlight, first aid kit, flare)

Walmart has some kits like this that are relatively inexpensive.

A gallon of water or two is also good to have on hand.

A Cell phone -for sure- and a charger. Numbers of people from Dallas and to where you're traveling in Atlanta.

If you have to stop for gas or to stretch your legs (which you'll want to do every few hours or so) , make sure you stop at places that are fairly busy and have good lighting.

Pay attention to what's going on around you. Keep your keys and your money close to you.

You'll do fine. I know God will watch over you and see you there safely!

Answer 2

Its dangerous out their girl. Make sure you have communication. Bring your cell and a CB radio would be a good idea. No hitch Hikers and make sure your friends have your itinerary. This should only be a one day trip so you shouldn't have any problems but check in a couple of times with friends at pre set times so you have a life line if anything happens. At the same time, Have fun. the country down there is beautiful and worth the drive. Careful of the Arkansas border. A really nasty radar trap town. Its summer now so you should not have any problems with wet roads etc. Keep the radio going. If you haven't. Get a AAA card, that's automobile club of America. If you have any break down trouble they will bail you out. At the same time they provide great maps and route help for free.
I am envious. That's a good trip you are going to take.

Answer 3

About 5 years ago I drove from Burlington, VT to Atlanta, Georgia - my advice to you is to stop & use the bathroom at places like McDonald's, etc where you know other people will be & hopefully well lit, park as close to the entrance doors under the light or visible to people who work at the place. Don't get too low on gas & if you pull off somewhere to get gas or use the bathroom that doesn't look safe or its sketchy get back on the highway. Usually exits with several gas stations & restaurants are good. Definately get a cell phone (if you don't already have one), make sure you know how to change a flat tire & check your oil, or have AAA phone number handy. I usually pack my own snacks & bring a small cooler with me to carry water & food for when I get hungry, you never know when you are going to hit really slow moving traffic. I'd also advise buying a Road Atlas & try to map out your route before you leave (try to stick to the main interstate, less chance of getting lost) - write down the route numbers you need to follow and either exit # or area where interstate changes or if you need to change course, makes it easier to figure out where you are going. Good Luck & be safe!

Answer 4

Frequent breaks. I try to stop every 2 hours no matter what. (I am older and I can not take it as much as I used to.) You do not have to take long breaks. Even if it is just to get out of the car and walk around for a few minutes.
I also change the music I listen to. Listen to different types of music that you like, just vary it from time to time. (I like to listen to audio books. I was driving from Dallas to Houston after a long weekend of work. I could not stay awake. I bought an audio book that was a murder mystery. I found myself in my driveway trying to find out who was the murderer.)
Change the temperature in the vehicle. Cold and then hot. Roll the window down. Roll the window up.
You just want to keep things varied. If you keep things constant, you will get too comfortable and will get tired quickly. Anything you can do to vary the routine, you will stay awake better.
Good luck. I will be making the drive from Houston to Atlanta next summer.

Answer 5

Take a cell phone. While I don't recommend using it while driving, use it to check in frequently with people who know where you are going, so they kind of know when you should be calling from where and when, which will give them the "heads up" should anything happen. It is a security measure that you need. Considering you can get a prepaid phone at Wal-Mart for about $30, there is no reason not to.

I also echo everyone's comments about bringing plenty of music. I like to keep a couple of bottles of water in the car with me as well, just to keep hydrated.

If you enjoy them you could also try some books on CD. I know many people really love listening to books while they drive, though I am not one of them. Anything to keep the mind engaged.

Keep your doors locked!

Answer 6

Make dad gum certain the car is in good condition all the way 'round. If you don't know how to check and add oil, find out. Are you stopping and sleeping overnight? Get good maps and have them handy and know the precise route to your destination. Realize that the traffic in and around Atlanta is very heavy and that you don't want to be on the freeways during the rush hours and even Saturday mornings on the belt around the city can be stop and go or no go so plan your arrival time.

Answer 7

Stay on the main highways. Keep up with other motorists. Try to travel in a group of cars. Do not pull over unless it is in a really busy place. Check all your fluids in the car before you leave and half way through your trip. Also make sure and watch your cars gauges. You should be fine. If for any reason you break down. Call the police and tell them you are being attacked. They will respond to your area immediately. You can always appologize later and tell them another cop gave you this advice.

Deputy W. Harbison...

Answer 8

Make sure you stop in populated areas. Listen to your gut and if you are not sure about stopping somewhere once you pull in, get back in your car and drive to the next stop. Have great music to listen to, pack munchies and food so you don't have to stop for food (healthier and cheaper).

I already recommend leaving early in the morning. This way there's less traffic when you leave and the trip seems to go by faster.

Lastly time your trip to avoid rush hour traffic in any major cities you may pass through.

Have a great trip!

Answer 9

I got news for you. Gas is going to cost just as much as a plane ticket. And if you travel on Airtran it may be cheaper. You can get a one way ticket on Airtran for like 100 bucks.
You would be better off flying. Trust me! I did a 8 hour drive to Mississippi. It was horrible. So lonely.

Answer 10

Sounds almost like the route driven by that astronaut chick when she drove from texas to florida without stopping a single time so she could beat up her romantic rival at the airport.
She did it in like 9 hours flat.