Transportation to the field:

• Take 2 vehicles if possible (or 1 vehicle and a cellular phone)
• Where are the car keys?
• Always back the vehicle into a field
• Park away from areas used by farm equipment

Field trials are often conducted many miles away from civilization. Carpooling may be environmentally correct in the city, but not when one is going to the field. Vehicles are not necessarily more likely to break down in the field than in the city, but they are more likely to become stuck in sand, mud, or snow. If you must travel to the field in only one vehicle, be certain someone knows where you are going and when to become concerned if you don't return.

The ready availability of cellular phones is truly an advantage for the field researcher. However, not all areas are covered by cellular phone service and this should not be relied on if you are traveling to an unfamiliar area.

"Always back a vehicle into a field" is something you will be told by the tow truck operator as he winches you out. "You could have probably gotten yourself out if you had backed in." And, yes you can get a four wheel drive vehicle stuck. Hopfully you won't have to experience this firsthand.

Before locking the car or closing the trunk, never think that the car keys are in your pocket, someone elses pocket or anywhere else unless you have verified this by actually seeing them.

When you're out in the middle of a field, it's amazing how a farm truck or other equipment can appear out of nowhere coming down the deserted road you've parked on. Fortunately, they will usually stop and wait for you to run to your car rather than running over it. Park as far to the side of a field road as you can without getting stuck.

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