FIRST PERSON | "Carmaggedon" will be a reality in Los Angeles this weekend. The key 405 interstate will closed for 53 hours and city officials have been warning drivers to prepare for long delays.
If you find yourself stuck in the middle of Carmageddon, there are three must-have items you should have with you: water and high-calorie snacks, extra layers of clothing, and a great audiobook.
Water and High-Calorie Snacks
Water and high-calorie snacks have saved me from extreme hunger and dehydration after skipping breakfast to rush into work and getting stuck in huge lines of traffic. Bottled water stores very easily in glove compartments, under seats, or in the pockets on the backs of chairs. A safe car can never go without bottled water. Store the bottles out of the sun to keep the water cool and the plastic from contaminating the water. If you live in an extremely warm area, you might consider storing it in a cooler. If you don't like plastic bottles, you can always get a stainless steel water bottle.
I always keep several types of power and energy bars in the glove box of my car. They keep you alert and aware of your surroundings during the monotony of a severe traffic jam, and they have prevented hypoglycemia. People skip meals all the time before driving, not thinking about the possibility they could get stuck in traffic for hours. There could be serious health risks in these situations, so always store high-calorie snacks in the car.
Extra and Spare Clothes
The climate and weather of many different regions can be severe and unpredictable. For instance, as a resident of Cleveland, I know it may snow in April or it could be below freezing on a fall morning but upwards of 70 degrees Fahrenheit in the afternoon. Thus, I always keep extra and spare clothes in my car, usually a heavy jacket, sweater, hat, gloves, shorts, t-shirt, and socks. You never know how extreme the weather might get during a long traffic jam and your car's heating and cooling system, if it has one, might not be enough to protect you or make you feel comfortable.
A Great Audiobook
I am someone whose mind can wander in traffic and be consumed of the monotony of the event, which is not safe. Moreover, it is extremely boring to sit in a car endlessly and just listen to radio stations repeat the same song hour after hour, so I bring several audiobooks in the car with me in CDs or on my iPod. I listen to them while in traffic, and it keeps me entertained and, paradoxically, more aware and willing to pay attention to the severe traffic around me. If you have not tried keeping audiobooks in your car for your next experience with "Carmaggedon," you may want to consider it.
Sources
Welch, William M. "Carmageddon predicted for L.A.'s 405 closing." USA Today 12 July 2011: USA Today. Web. 13 July 2011.Rivard, Cora. "Plastic Water Bottles: How Safe are They?" Rockwell Nutrition. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 July 2011.Howard, Kristen. "Traffic Survival Tips." Freshpaved Magazine 1 Jan. 2011: n. pag. Freshpaved. Web. 13 July 2011.
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