Transportation Tips: Schedule in some extra time

Wednesday morning's traffic gridlock in Temecula provided a hard lesson for all of us. Schedule in some extra time and have a back up plan ready. For instance if you're riding the bus and it gets caught in traffic or shows up late and you believe it may not reach the transfer hub or your destination on time, have the phone number of your employer or destination on hand should you need to call and let them know you're stuck. If you don't carry a cell phone, have some extra quarters in your pockets and know where the nearest public pay phones are along your route.

If you're driving or carpooling, make it a regular habit to be at your destination at least 15 minutes before your appointed time. If you're commuting or traveling long distances, allow an additional 15-30 minutes. For instance, if you have an appointment down in La Jolla in the middle of the day and are coming from Murrieta, budget at least 90 minutes for the trip, even though the travel time is about an hour during off-peak hours. Have the appointment card or the office telephone number in your pocket should you become delayed or need to call. By planning that way, if something does occur while on the road, you won't be caught off guard and will have the contact information on hand combined with those few extra precious minutes to spare.

Fall Back: Speaking of time, don't forget to set your clocks back one hour before you go to bed this Saturday night. Daylight savings ends Sunday, November 3 at 2:00 a.m.

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