A NOTE TO OUR READERS:
"Editor's Travel Tips: Highway Travel" is from the November 2004 issue of Southern Living. Because prices, dates, and other specifics are subject to change, please check all information to make sure it's still current before making your travel plans.

Editor's Pick
Southerners love to drive, and here at Southern Living, we love writing about great places to motor. Say the word "vacation" to most people and what comes to mind is dear old dad packing kids into the station wagon and lighting out for those black ribbons of highway that connect us to our favorite places. In the South we're blessed with fine roads, splendid weather, and motorists who, in most cases, are courteous. Plus, the cars we drive and the roads we travel have become safer.

Having logged millions of miles at the wheel, the travel staff has developed some sound advice for highway driving. But first, let me share my favorite tip. I love cars and am a member of five automobile clubs. My preferred car club is the American Automobile Association (AAA). Members of our staff have used the organization to unlock cars, change flat tires, tow their personal vehicles, and provide maps to nearly every remote hill and hollow of our region. Yearly rates vary--I pay $43 a year here in Birmingham. To me, that's money well spent--especially when you take into account the myriad of AAA hotel discounts and services I often take advantage of. Good luck out there.

Preparing for a Road Trip

• Check your tire pressure. A gauge can cost as little as $6, or most true service stations will let you borrow theirs. Proper inflation saves gas and tire wear. Also check the air in the spare.
• Balance your car's load by putting heavy items deep into the trunk.
• Replace windshield wipers.
• Look at a map, and call ahead. Internet directions and satellite-guidance systems are handy, but they can't beat directions from a knowledgeable source.
• Plan a few stops at non-chain restaurants, shops, and attractions to make the most of your holiday.

Safest Places To Drive in The South
Based on traffic safety information, the top places in our region for safe driving are Georgia, D.C., Virginia, and Maryland. These all have fatal accident rates well below the national average.

Back Off
If you were taught the two-second rule for safe following distances, consider this: At the maximum posted limit of 70 mph, you're traveling 103 feet per second. That puts you 206 feet behind the car you are following. Should the fellow you're tailgating slam on his brakes, it may take you at least a half-second to see the brake lights and respond. That leaves just 150 feet and 11/2 seconds to avoid an accident. So my motto is this: Stay at least three seconds behind the vehicle you're following. How do you count the seconds? When the car in front of you passes a fixed object, begin counting. Stop counting when you reach that billboard, mile marker, etc.

We Brake for Texas Texans take pride in their state, and they appreciate it when residents and visitors drive carefully. Reader Lisa Leland snapped this welcome sign in Hondo, west of San Antonio. We think it sums up things rather well.