Between the folds: Why maps are awesome

By Bonnie Paine
KDOT Administration Specialist 

If you rely on your Google Maps, MapQuest, or other online mapping software to get you to your destination, then you’re probably in the majority.  However, as surprising at it may seem, there are still many, many of us who prefer a good ol’ paper map.  

Why do we like them, you ask, because we can fold it into whatever configuration we need to see where we’re going? Plus, the only misdirection I may encounter will be because of my own, or my navigator’s sense of direction.

While online directional software is convenient and offers a pleasantly stilted voice telling you when and where to turn, a paper map is often used by a friendly travelling partner and adds the “human element” of companionship missing in software.  It should be noted that both online and traditional paper map users can make errors in the directions provided.  

This should be taken in stride by the driver and handled in a calm, responsible manner. 

Drivers should either reprogram the instructions given to the software or take a look at the paper map for himself or herself.  However, all drivers should use caution to avoid being distracted by either studying the map or arguing with their navigator. 

So, let’s talk about paper maps -- my personal favorite.  One important aspect of my position with KDOT is to mail (snail mail) many thousands of paper maps.  They’re free of charge and may be obtained by going to either http://www.ksdot.org/maps.asp or calling 785-296-3640.  

So far this year, I've mailed out more than 28,000 maps to individuals, businesses and schools. 

A common misconception is that only “old folks” still use a paper map.  On the contrary, many, many schools use them to teach students, not only how to read a map, but to illustrate distances, points of interest, scenic roadways, and a multitude of other features found on paper maps.  And people of all ages – from both in-state and out-of-state -- request paper maps. 

Many hotels, chambers of commerce, visitor centers, tour groups and clubs keep supplies of Kansas maps. And get this, no internet is necessary to read a paper map. Plus, if you read them in daylight, you won’t need a battery-powered device to read it either.

Here are just a few of the comments I’ve heard from people requesting paper maps.

• I just love a map I can hold it and see what’s coming up down the road. Maybe I’ll decide to take a side-trip to check out something that looks interesting. Online mapping won’t give you that kind of friendly information.
• I’m fascinated by maps, in fact, I’d like to study cartography.
• I have great memories of my Dad teaching me how to use a map and follow our path as we vacationed when I was a kid. That’s probably why I still prefer a paper map.
• One of my best memories of elementary school was the fourth-grade lessons on Kansas when my teacher, Mrs. Adams, gave each of us our own map and we learned how to find all sorts of things.
• There is so much to see on a paper map that it makes traveling much more interesting.

No matter what you use to navigate the safest, most expeditious route, be sure to check

www.kandrive.org to learn what current road conditions and constructions projects may be occurring on the route you choose.

Adventure awaits! Are you summer travel ready?

By Lisa Mussman
Public Affairs Manager for northwest Kansas 

Memorial Day marks the unofficial start of summer and the summer travel season. The American Automobile Association (AAA) predicts nearly 43 million Americans will kick off their summer with a holiday getaway with most of them, 37.6 million, traveling by car.

Just like winter, summer weather conditions should be taken into consideration when preparing your vehicle and emergency kit for travel. AAA shares the following summer driving safety tips:


Prepping your car

• Check the tread depth, inflation and overall condition of all your vehicle’s tires (including the spare) at the start of every season. Tread depth can be checked by placing a quarter in the tread with Washington’s head facing down. If you can see the top of his head, it might be time for new tires.
  
• Check and clean battery terminals. Consider having the battery tested if it is more than three years old.
  
• Flush your car’s cooling system on a regular basis and make sure coolant levels are topped off. If your car does overheat, do not remove the radiator cap until the engine has cooled down.
  
• Replace windshield wipers and wiper fluid if needed. Also check transmission and power steering fluids, and ensure brake lights, headlights, turn signals, emergency flashers and interior lights are working.

In case of emergency…
If you already have an emergency kit from winter, now is a good time to do a quick inventory and replace items as needed. If you don’t have a kit, here are some suggested contents:

• Cell phone and charger
• First aid kit
• Flashlight
• Flares and a white flag
• Jumper cables
• Tire pressure gauge
• Jack (and ground mat) for changing a tire
• Work gloves and a change of clothes
• Basic repair tools and duct tape (for temporarily repairing a hose leak)
• Water and paper towels, or baby wipes for cleaning up
• Nonperishable food, drinking water and medicines
• Extra windshield washer fluid
• Maps
• Emergency blankets, towels and coats

Ready, set, go!

Now that your car is ready to hit the road, make sure you’re ready too! When planning your route, check out kandrive.org for construction projects that may affect your trip if traveling in Kansas. Once you’re on the road, try to keep distractions to a minimum. If you must make a call or send a text, find a safe place to pull over; never text and drive! Also, be sure to get plenty of rest before your trip to avoid drowsy driving.

And most importantly, buckle up! Here’s to a great summer of adventures!

Traveling for Thanksgiving? Prepare for emergencies

Even our crews are prepared for emergencies here are some items they keep on hand as they travel. 

Many of us are planning a busy week of travel to our Thanksgiving holiday destinations. Before you hit the road, it is important to keep up with your vehicle’s maintenance to help prevent a breakdown. Ready.gov recommends you or a mechanic check the following on your vehicle:

• Antifreeze levels
• Battery and ignition system
• Brakes
• Exhaust system
• Fuel and air filters
• Heater and defroster
• Lights and flashing hazard lights
• Oil
• Thermostat
• Windshield wiper equipment and washer fluid level
•  

Even if you have done all the necessary maintenance checks, unexpected situations still happen. Are you prepared if your car breaks down on the side of the road during a snow storm, or if you slide off into a ditch?

Having an emergency kit with the right items and tools can keep you and your passengers safe and as comfortable as possible until help arrives. It is also important to remember that not every emergency kit is built the same, so tailor it to the condition of your vehicle and the weather conditions in the areas where you travel.

The emergency kit in your vehicle should be checked every six months and expired items should be replaced as needed. Here are some items to have:

• First aid kit with bandages in multiple sizes, gauze, tape, antibiotic cream, over-the-counter pain relievers, allergy medicine, hand sanitizer and cotton swabs
• Flashlight with extra batteries
• Jumper cables
• Drinking water
• Warm clothing or blankets
• Non-perishable snacks such as nuts
• Properly inflated spare tire, wheel wrench and tripod jack
• Fire extinguisher
• Multi-purpose tool and/or tool kit
• Road flares
• Car charger for your cell phone which should have family and emergency phone numbers

In addition to preparing your vehicle, you can increase your chances of making it safely to the table by driving sober, wearing your seat belt, following the speed limit and focusing on the road ahead. As always, remember to check road conditions before you leave at www.kandrive.org

Celebrate the Fourth of July with these safety tips in mind

Kansans will hit the road and celebrate the Fourth of July with their loved ones. It is also close to the halfway point in the 100 Deadliest Days, the time period between Memorial Day and Labor Day where more teens are involved in crashes. 

The Kansas Department of Transportation, The Kansas Highway Patrol and the Kansas Turnpike Authority  want to encourage travelers to plan ahead to and be prepared for their trips and celebrations.

From June 30 to July 4 last year, there were 549 crashes with seven people killed and 159 people who were injured.

Before travelers pack their cars, they can check their route for delays or construction with the help of KanDrive at www.kandrive.org, which can also be accessed from mobile devices. KanDrive includes camera images and interactive maps, as well as links to rest areas and travel and tourism sites.

Here are some additional safety tips to help travelers get the most of their Fourth of July celebrations and summertime fun:

• Begin a trip with a full tank of gas and a fully charged phone.
• As you travel, remember to move over for first responders and highway maintenance crews. If you are unable to move over, then slow down.
• Keep emergency supplies in your car, including bottles of water, a phone charger and non-perishable food items.
• Confirm that everyone in your vehicle is using their seat belt and/or an appropriately-fitted child safety seat.
• Before you consume alcohol designate a sober driver ahead of time.
• If you’re hosting a party provide non-alcoholic drink alternatives for guests who don’t plan on drinking or who are designated drivers. 

If you are involved in a crash or need assistance on a Kansas highway, call *47 (*HP) from a cell phone for a highway patrol dispatcher, or if on the Kansas Turnpike, dial *582 (*KTA). 

Have a safe and happy Fourth of July!

Good old fashioned road trip games

Remember the days of the family vacation when the entire family piled into the car and hit the road for two weeks?  According the New York Times, the American road trip is making a rebound.  It may be a shorter four- or five-day road trip versus the two-week road trip of the past, but it still counts.   

Road trips in general offer a families a chance to unplug from social media and their devices. They can also build memories. Here are some good old fashioned road games that are sure to keep you and your loved ones entertained on your next road trip.

20 Questions

One player thinks of a person, place or thing. The other players then ask that player up to 20 yes-or-no questions to figure out what the person is thinking about. Whomever figures it out wins, unless nobody figures it out by the 20th question. If that happens, the player who thought of the person, place or things wins.

I spy

The classic game "I spy" is yet another guessing game. In this game, one person looks around the car and chooses an object. They decide which of the object's characteristics will serve as a clue and then say, "I spy, with my little eye, something that is _____." For instance, if he or she chooses a banana, the phrase would be, "I spy, with my little eye, something that is yellow." The other players then take turns guessing the object until someone figures it out and wins.

Geography

In this game, the first player thinks of a location that can be found on a map. The location can be anything — a continent, city, mountain or landmark — it must be found on a map. The first player says the location he or she has in mind, and then the next player has to think of a location that starts with the last letter of the named location. For example, if the first person says, "Florida," the next player must name a location that starts with the letter "A." The players take turns naming locations until someone takes longer than 10 seconds to come up with an answer. That person is out of the game, and the game continues until one player wins by being the last one remaining.  This can also be played with numerous other topics.

My Cows
This one only works if you're driving through rural areas, but it's great for long drives. When driving past a farm with cows, the first person to spot them calls out "My Cows!" and makes a quick count/guesstimate of how many he or she got. The object, of course, is to "collect" the most cows. If the car passes over a bridge, whoever spots it first gets to erase another player's cows. The erase landscape object doesn't need to be a bridge; it can be a graveyard or anything else you might pass periodically on a road trip well-supplied with cows.  Instead of counting cows, you could also count windmills, horses, oil derricks or whatever you and your fellow players decide!

If you aren’t driving you can also play Guess the Phrase with your fellow passengers.  It is also commonly known as Hangman or Snowman.

The rules for this game may vary. One player comes up with a secret phrase and the other players keep guessing letters one at a time until the phrase is completely spelled out on paper or until the player who guessed the phrase draws a complete figure (whichever happens first). Each time the players guess a letter that isn't in the phrase, the player who came up with the phrase draws a body part of the man (first the head, then the torso, then an arm etc.). If the guessing players guess all letters in the phrase before a complete character is drawn, they win. If not, the player who drew the man wins.

What are some of your favorite road trip games?