A checklist to keep you on the road

We’ve counseled before about the wisdom of keeping vehicle gas tanks as full as possible at all times — because you never know when a natural or political disaster might imperil fuel supplies.

And now, after seeing the top reasons for traffic slowdowns on Oahu’s freeways, we again urge that drivers keep their gas tanks full, not only for their own sakes but for the sake of other drivers, too.

People running out of gas while driving on the H-1, H-2 and Moanalua freeways over the past year — at least 1,120 of them — was the second biggest cause of traffic slowdowns on those roads, according to the state’s Freeway Service Patrol.

The biggest cause of traffic slowdowns during the past year? Flat tires, 1,737 of them. So be sure to keep your tires in top shape, too.

Here’s a gift; now let us tell you why we’re mad

These days airlines are charging for just about everything. Change fees, baggage fees, charges for onboard refreshments, they’re all going up.

So should we be pleased that the Transport Workers Union, representing more than 600 flight attendants of Allegiant Air, have put together survival kits for passengers sidelined by flight delays?

Well, no. The kit — comprising a souvenir T-shirt, a deck of cards, an all-day lollipop and a “de-lei” flower garland — is not a promotional gift from an airline trying to woo new passengers. It’s a sign of distress among the flight crew, two years into contract talks without resolution.