We have driven almost fourteen hundred miles through Michigan, Indiana, Kentucky, Tennessee, Georgia, and Florida. That’s a lot of highway, and I feel it qualifies me to make suggestions to the DOTs (Departments of Transportation)involved.
For example, some states provide mile markers every tenth of a mile, while others just identify every mile. I wonder about the cost of the extra nine signs per mile and if it is offset by saving lives or providing employment to sign makers. It seems extravagant to me.
Then there are the rest areas that crop up along the Interstate. Usually you get a two-mile warning that one is on your horizon, and that’s plenty of time to move into the appropriate off ramp for relief. Some states also tell you how far the next rest area is; and I find this particularly helpful in determining whether we’re stopping at the approaching one or whether we can make it to the next one. It’s a mental thing.
As one drives south the roads become smoother, and perhaps this is because they are not subjected to snow and ice and de-icer. I don’t believe we saw a single pothole after we left Indiana.
Florida is the most welcoming state, although I’m not sure the DOT is responsible. Regardless, soon after you cross into it there is a Welcome Center that offers free fresh orange juice or grapefruit juice, as well as a gazillion brochures promoting the state’s many attractions.
If Tennessee offered BBQ samples or Kentucky offered Maker’s Mark samples, we might consider wintering there instead of Florida.
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