Driving Safety, For Unpredictable Summer Weather:
From surprise thunderstorms to unbearable heat, summer weather can be unpredictable! Here are some tips for driving, or preparing to drive, in the crazy summer weather:
Rain:
- Are your windshield wipers on? If yes, then your headlights should be too! In many states, that’s the law.
- Don’t use cruise control when it’s raining. Cruise control helps your car maintain a consistent speed, so if your car starts hydroplaning, your car will actually speed up to maintain speed. This can cause an accident.
- Don’t panic if you start hydroplaning! Simply let off the gas, and keep your steering wheel straight. When your tires make contact with pavement again, you’ll be able to safely continue driving. A tip to try to avoid hydroplaning is to drive closer to the middle of the road where it is less likely for puddles to form.
Sun and Heat:
- Overheating is a common cause of breakdowns, so make sure you get your A/C system serviced.
- Try to park in the shade to keep your car as cool as possible, and use a sunshade when your car is parked.
- Do not leave pets or children in the car, no matter how brief. Temperatures can be 30 to 40 degrees hotter in a car than outside, and most of this increase in heat occurs in the first 30 minutes.
How to keep kids occupied on road trips:
Summer is full of road trips! Travelling with kids isn’t easy, so we wanted to give you some ideas to make it a lot more fun!
- License plate game: Create a list of all 50 states, and mark each one off as you see it!
- Create an activity book: You can use an empty DVD case with pad of paper, colored pencils and stickers in it to keep the kids occupied and quiet!
- Mad Libs: There are books you can buy and plenty of free ones you can find online.
- Road Trip Bingo: Use things you’ll be sure to see and maybe some special landmarks you’ll pass along the way. For the little ones, try Car-Color Bingo!
- Classic Road Trip Games: These games are tried and true! 20 Questions, I Spy and The Alphabet Game are all easy go-tos!
- Sing: Put in that Frozen soundtrack you shamelessly love, and belt out “Let It Go” with your kids! Create a special road trip playlist, with songs everyone will enjoy.
- Give each child a map with different things marked along the way. Have them follow the route and ask for a little treat when you reach each mark on the map.
- Make a stop, and stretch!
July 4th Recipe
Fruit & Brownie Kebabs
Ingredients:
- 9x13” pan of brownies, chilled and cut into 1” cubes
- 1 pint blueberries, washed
- 1 pint strawberries, washed and hulled
- Large marshmallows
- Hot fudge sauce for drizzling (optional)
- Wooden skewers
Instructions:
Alternate threading brownies, fruit and marshmallows onto wooden skewers. Drizzle with hot fudge sauce, if desired. Refrigerate until ready to serve.
For more fun recipes, click here!
Feature Series: America’s Wildest Roads
Hāna Highway is a 68-mile stretch connecting Kahului and Hāna, Hawaii. Originally built for sugar plantation workers commuting from Pāʻia to Hāna, the highway is winding and narrow. There are 59 bridges you must travel over, 46 of which are one lane wide. With about 620 curves along the highway, this is not an easy ride, but it is gorgeous with nearly all of it through tropical rainforest!