Does any of the CD member travel long distance daily for work. I mean about 70 – 80 kms. one way? I wanted to find out the do’s and don’ts of traveling long distance everyday by car.

Iceberg,
for some time i used to travel from my office (steels/weston to Burlington). it was around 100-120 kms one way (for 9 months). It was QEW/Royal York to Burlington via QEW and then to Steels/weston using QEW/427. In the evening it was return journey.
I generally use the highway and it takes me just an Hour and half or so to complete one trip. Even a normal 20 km. drive to my office (without the highway ) is 40 mins. atleast.
I feel that 100-150 kms. oneway (using the higway for 95 % of the travel is no big deal.)
I know people driving to Sudbury and back each day and if it is a 9-5 job , 5 days a week, it is no big deal.
Canadians donot consider long distance a hinderance at all. We have a lot of builders near our office and each day, they drive 100's of km's back and forth inspecting various house site.
DO's :
Have a newer car with good tyres and serviced on time. Get CAA.
Top up all windsheild washer and gas
Make sure spare tyre is well inflated and working
have a cellphone.
if tired, have a coffee or give a break every 30 mins.
Always listen to 680 news for traffic updates.
Give a lift to someone (from work) so that your senses are sharp (you donot fall asleep or flinch)

DO NOT's :
Never park on the side and open the driver seat door.
donot use cellphone and drive
donot overspeed. have full concentration while driving. Donot drive at more than 110 kms. and hour.
Never have alchohol and drive.

What kind of other info. are you looking for?
TK

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I am a Gents and not a Ladies.

Thanks, TK,

I am not looking for anything specific, but your reply helps. It is always reassuring to hear form someone about such experiences. My concern is I have not driven much on the highways in Canada and my commute shall be at odd hours.

Are you sure Weston / Steeles to Burlington is 100 Kms one way? Should be a two way trip.

Iceberg,
My reply was based on this:
QEW/Royal York to Burlington (to drop a family member) : 55 +kms.
Burlington to 427 : 50+ kms
427 to My office (weston-steels) : 18+ kms.
This is one way and in the evening , the reverse will occur.
so this was my calculation.
Driving at Odd hours is no big deal. the highway is free of any traffic. So you can reach your destination in a quicker time. Take care that you are always in the right extremelane and never go behind any trucks (something can fall from it). If a truck is behind you , make sure that you either get a lot ahead of it or leave it to overtake you. Never race your car against anyone.
a few days of highway travel can educate you.
TK
Sidenote : i always refresh myself to TIM's coffee and doughnuts/timbits at burlington. At burlington i get a free pop. If i had any meetings in the morning , i would take the 407 from burlington which will save me 20 kms and 1/2 an hour.

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I am a Gents and not a Ladies.

TK,

Thanks for the info.

Check this http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/12438812/site/newsweek/

Infact Newsweek alongwith Toyota is carrying out a survey on commute times.

I remember in india when i was working in L&T. A fellow architect was coming from Vellore (where he had his parents house) to Chennai every day by train. I think vellore was 2 hours train journey to central and from central to L&T office was another 1 hr. by train.
So this individual will wake up every day at 4:30 am. Catch the 5:30 train and reach chennai central at 7:40 and then reach L&T by local train and bus at 9:00 am. The office closes at 5:15 and then he does the return. He reaches home by 11:00 pm. Sleeps at 12 midnight. Does this for 5 1/2 days a week.
He will always be seen with blood shot eyes and dirt in his eys. His cloths are always crumpled and he would smell of sweat in the a/c office.
What is the use of all this yarr? To save a few hundreds in your salary? IS this life for a young guy? That is what i tell him.
Your link remeinded me of this story.
TK
Sidenote : managers in the office were not impressed with this. after a year they convinced him to rent a home in chennai and stay there.

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I am a Gents and not a Ladies.

Quote:

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Originally posted by tamilkuravan

I know people driving to Sudbury and back each day and if it is a 9-5 job , 5 days a week, it is no big deal.
TK

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