Society has changed since the coronavirus first appeared several months ago. As it seems likely that it’s not going anywhere anytime soon, people have adjusted. They’ve had to, to try and get on with their lives as best they can.
One area that Covid-19 has affected is business travel. You can do many types of business through Zoom these days, or similar face-to-face meeting apps. However, there are still sometimes meetings or conferences that have to take place in-person.
When that happens, people need to travel, but fewer are doing so by plane. They’re using either their personal vehicles or rental cars, and there are many compelling reasons why that is a smart idea. Here are four of them.
New Vehicles are Safer Than Ever
Most people don’t think of cars as the most luxurious transportation methods or the safest. However, if you own or rent a brand-new vehicle, it’s incredible how far technology has come.
Most new vehicles come with an event data recorder that can help figure out fault if an accident takes place. Cars come with safety features standard now like:
- Automatic emergency braking
- Blind spot detection systems
- Backup cameras
- Parallel parking assist
Someone from thirty years ago would feel astonishment seeing all these new gadgets. Parallel parking was a driving test standard at one point. Now, you have cars that can do it for you.
There Are More Options to Keep You Entertained on the Drive
One drawback of business driving was that it was boring. Years ago, there wasn’t much to do while sitting in the car but surfing through the radio, trying to find a station to which you could listen.
Tapes and CDs have come and gone, but now, there are many more options. For instance, there is:
- Satellite radio with thousands of stations
- A wide variety of podcasts on fascinating topics
- An assortment of audiobooks
- Bluetooth connectivity to your phone, so you can listen to your music library
You cannot watch a movie or TV because you have to keep your eyes on the road. Aside from that, though, the entertainment options are much more extensive than was the case even a decade ago.
Flying is Inherently Dangerous
There is also the danger factor involved with flying. Even with improved safety features and entertainment options, driving might not be your cup of tea.
Here’s the thing, though: flying during a pandemic is asking for trouble. You can attempt to wear a mask the whole time and socially distance by keeping an empty seat between you and another person.
However, what’s still happening is that you’re in an enclosed space with dozens or hundreds of other people. Some of them might be sick, and while masks offer some protection, they’re not one hundred percent effective.
Being in an enclosed space with others is a risk that many individuals still aren’t willing to take, and who could blame them?
Driving Gives You Some Alone Time
People feel different ways about driving. Some love it, and others loath it. One thing that it allows you to do, though, is to take a little time for yourself.
One pandemic result is that many people feel anxious or depressed now, as they never did before. Even those with the sunniest dispositions can feel agitated in light of the upcoming housing crisis, rising unemployment numbers, etc.
Driving somewhere takes longer than flying, and you can take that time to engage in some quiet self-reflection. You can think about your goals and fears. You can affirm who and what is most important in your life.
By the time you get to where you are going, you should be more focused and centered.
A great deal is uncertain here in the latter half of 2020. Presumably, medical science will make a Covid-19 vaccine at some point, but how long might that take? No one is sure.
At the same time, there’s a presidential election coming up. Regardless of your political affiliations, just about every American will have a close eye on the outcome. The result will determine what’s going to happen over the next four years.
Business must go on, though, in the face of these unknowns. People need to make money to support their families, and that involves some travel.
If you need to go across the country, consider driving rather than flying. It’s safer, and you might very well end up enjoying the trip.
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