Long Distance Driving Survival Guide pt. 2

In my Long Distance Driving Survival Guide pt. 1, I wrote about the various techniques to Staying Awake and Focused at the wheel. In this article, I write about Arriving on Time.

It is crucial to portray a professional image of ourselves by arriving on time, all the time for a Videography project. Driving for hours on end makes being punctual a challenge. Here are some tips to help you Arrive On Time.

1) Know the Formula.

Speed (Km/H) = Distance (Km) ÷ Time (Hour)

The formula tells you the speed you must be traveling to reach your destination within a certain time. Use this formula to help you plan your journey. Take into consideration traffic jams when you hit town.

2) Keep vehicle in good condition.
If you are driving a seasoned car (above 5 years old), make sure:
a) Your engine oil and engine filter are fairly new.
b) Ensure your tyres are not getting bald.
c) Fill up your radiator tank with water.
d) Keep a bottle of water handy in case your car overheats.
e) Check that your spare tyre is still in good condition.
f) If it's rainy season in your area, make sure your windshield wipers can still keep the rain away.
g) Check that your car drives straight. If it doesn't, send it for wheel re-alignment/balancing.
h) Your brakes grab the tyres when you need them to.





2) Plan your route.
If you have not been to your desired destination, never assume you are familiar with the roads. Look up GoogleMaps for help or check out a map. Don't just depend on friends for directions.



3) Drive at a cruising speed.
Don't race with other vehicles. It will raise your blood pressure and your fuel consumption too.

4) Equip a GPS Navigation System
These are very handy tools that save you time and anxiety. Garmin produces affordable yet reliable navigation devices for use in car, motorcycles, on the sea and in the air. I personally own the Nuvi 205W purchased for about $229 USD. It even warns me of potential speed traps and road block areas.



Another neat feature of having a navigation device is being able to adopt a more relaxed driving attitude. My Nuvi 205W helps me recalculate a new route to my destination on the fly when I've made a wrong turn.

Allocate time for parking.
Finding the place and actually rolling the cameras are two different tasks, especially within city limits. I suggest debarking the team at the venue's entrance before going off to find a parking space.

Professional videographers don't arrive on time for a videography session. We arrive early so we can work out contingencies which so often put a crimp into our plans. No event's programme goes according to plan, there will be unforseen incidents or overlooked issues to contend with.

Hopefully, my entries, taken from the field and based on first-hand experience, will help you. So drive safe and plan ahead.

Your comments and suggestions on this topic are most welcomed. Happy driving!

Long Distance Driving Survival Guide pt. 1

All it takes is just a few seconds of shut eye and your world will be spinning out of control. Fortunately, falling asleep at the wheel is an avoidable mistake.

Our services as professional videographers are required by businesses far and wide. Sometimes we fly in but we are all too aware of the restrictions and inconveniences we face at airports. Compounded with the hassle of arranging public transportation after touchdown to send us on-location, we are putting our team at risk of a late arrival.



Long distance driving is more science than art. There are many ways to fight fatigue and remain focused on the road. Many of these techniques are also useful to the vacationer. The key ingredient in staying fresh at the wheel is research and planning.

Whenever we can, our Videography team would rather drive ourselves. With our own vehicle at our disposal, we can come and go when we please, maybe do a little sightseeing after work.

Long Distance Driving Survival Guide:
These techniques are intended for drivers who have to traverse at least 300KM in a vehicle and spend more than 3 hours behind the wheel. REMEMBER, the safety of your team is in your hands so, Drive Safe!

The toughest part of long distance driving is Staying Awake. Here are a few tips to help you remain focused at the wheel:

1) Grab a bunch of sour-flavoured candy.
Somehow, sour tid-bits seem to banish the drowsiness. When you start to nod off, deploy these candies.

2) Grab a bunch of peanuts.

Biting and chewing tid-bits help to get your blood pumping. You'll want to keep these snacks for when you really need them. Don't go on a free-for-all binge.

3) Chat (verbally)
Talking about various topics with your team will ease the mundane task of staring down endless highways. Keep in mind passengers may not sacrifice their nap time to converse with you.

4) Stretch
Periodically, very carefully and with both hands on the steering wheel, rock your head from side to side. Swing your head up and down. With one hand on the wheel, stretch your hand behind your seat as far as you can go. Rock your pelvis from side to side. Doing these will help alleviate pins and needles. To a small degree, it will help improve your blood circulation.

5) Smile
Clearly not as effective as chomping on a peanut but even a forced smile helps when you're fresh out of candies. Smile like it's going out of fashion, with teeth bared and facial muscles flexed for a few seconds. Repeat as many times as necessary.

6) Extreme Measures
I don't encourage this method but if all else fails, touch a hot surface. Some cars have a parking brake that is not upholstered where it extends into the car's exterior. After some time on the road, this metal part heats up. Touching this surface for a short span of time is sure to send a surge of adrenalin up, dissipating any thoughts of sleep.

In my Long Distance Driving Survival Guide pt. 2, I will write about Arriving On Time.