Evening star., 1954-01-11
Readers Clearing House .!7;7 s;;':;;; ss;%'l. Il
DRIVING ALONE.

Mrs. D. p. Med, Falls Church.
Miss B. j. M: While I am
middle-aged now. / began
driving to California alone
while still quite young. and
have never had any difficulties
of any kind. but there are
some precautions it would be
wise to take:
First, never pick up a rider!
You'll be tempted to at times
when you are weary of driving.
but do not do it. and remem-
ber, as an old man who ran a
gasoline station in the noun
tains in California said to me
one time when I drove in about
2 am. for gas: Do not be
misled by a uniform. for "uni-
forms can be bought"
Second, if you do not carry
a gasoline credit card be sure
to get one, for it cuts down
the amount of cash you need
to carry and in case OF tire or
battery trouble you can al
ways charge them on your
credit card. too. I carry one
from E. and find that
either their own stations or
their affiliated stations (Shown
on the back of the credit card)
will furnish me with gasoline
all the way to the West Coast
and back by any route without
using cash. Be careful.
though, to avoid the cut
price stations. They. as a
rule. do not honor the cards.
Third, I suppose you are used
to taking the bulk of your
money in travellers cheques.
but if not, be sure to do so
when going it alone. In most
cases the $40 cheques are most
useful for cashing in cafes or
motels and you'll find the
motel route the most satisfac-
tory, I think.
Fourth, since you have made
the trip before. no doubt
you've done most of the sight
seeing along the way that you
wish. If not, let it wait until
another time when you have
company. The straight route
through is the best for a
woman especially young) who
Is driving alone. Take plenty
of books with you and a small
radio, and after you've had
your evening meal go back to
your room and stay there.
Fifth, have found that in
the West so much driving is
done at night that it was just
as safe then as at any other
time and much more pleasant
in the desert. The drivers OF
the produce trucks and other
trucks that have regular runs
are always most courteous and
will do many things to help
the woman driving alone,
warning you about steep
grades. signaling when it is
safe to pass. etc. So if you
want to drive at night there. I
feel it is quite safe as long as
you stay on the main routes.
I would not advise it in other
parts of the country,
Sixth, if you have diamonds
or other good jewelry, leave
them at home. or at least do
not display them. and if you
stop at motels. be sure to take
your purse with you when in
the bathroom, and at night. be
sure it is in a drawer or safely
away from a window, for it is
very easy for a thief to cut a
screen and thrust in a bent
wire to pull the purse to a
window. This bit of wisdom
was bought very dearly by a
member of my family who lost
some beautiful rings in this
way.
Last, but by no means least,
If you are not a member OF
the AAA be sure to take out
a membership card. If you
should have a breakdown Of
any kind their help is untold.
their routings and books of
motels and hotel accommoda-
tions are extremely good, and
your family is protected by
the insurance feature of ev-
cry membership.
I have driven all the routes
across many times. so if I can
be of any further help. I'll be
happy to aid you if you'll get
In touch with me through
RICH. \
BLANKET COVER?
MRS r. s. L.. SiITer SDriuOD