Hancock Warnings Or Dangers Tips by grandmaR

Traffic Lanes

When you are climbing up the mountains of western Maryland on I-68, you will see that going uphill there are three lanes instead of two. This is for the long haul trucks, or anyone else that has a vehicle with difficulty in hill climbing.

Stay in the normal right hand lane, unless people are coming up behind you. Then get over into the slow lane. This lane will end just before the top of the rise.

Also notice that there are 'runaway truck' ramps on the downhill slopes. This is so that if the truck loses its brakes it will have a safe place to get off the road. Usually it will have a steep upslope to slow the truck down, and sometimes a crash barrier or an earthen hill for a last ditch stop.

Overheated Cars

While the mountains are not as steep as those farther west, if you are a flatlander, your car may not cope very well with the grades. You need to have good brakes (and good braking techniques) and your car radiator needs to be in good shape. The pickup truck behind our car has the hood up, perhaps to cool off the engine that was overheating.

Here are some tips for safe driving taken from Road Trip

"1. Make sure that your brakes, windshield wipers, defroster, heater, and exhaust systems are in good condition. Ensure that your brake and transmission fluids are filled and have been changed within the interval recommended for your vehicle. Brake fluid, as it ages, takes on moisture and contaminants that lowers its boiling level. Frequent brake use can overheat the fluid and you can lose braking efficiency when it is most needed. Also check the tread on your tires and ensure that they are properly inflated.

"2. Don't go down a mountain road any faster than you can go up it. Don't use your brakes to hold your downhill speed. Down shift to S or L - the only time you should step on your brake pedal is to slow while you are shifting down to a lower gear. Resist the temptation of zooming down a hill.

"3. On steep upgrades, downshift to a lower gear, watch the temperature gauge in your vehicle, and turn off the air-conditioning if it starts to overheat. If you need to cool the engine, find a safe place to pull off the road, park it and keep the car at a fast idle. Do not shut off the engine, and never remove a hot radiator cap. A faster way to cool an engine is to turn on the heater, but usually that option is a bit unpleasant for the driver."

Website: http://www.roadtripamerica.com/tips/mountaindriving.htm