40/40 vision

The Canadian Automobile Association can tell you the shortest route to Davis, CA. They can tell you the prettiest route, too. But they either can't or won't tell you the safest way to go.
Poor CAA. Google can take care of route planning in about 5 minutes. Those flip-book maps seem like relics from the days of the automat. I guess CAA is more of a tow-truck insurance scheme these days.
Thankfully, there are guys like Dave Miller from Eassons Transport to give friendly advice to rookie road-trippers (www.eassons.com). Dave says your route depends on a long list of factors (Are you driving days or nights? How heavy is your load?). And he offers no guarantees, "To put it politely, the US is facing some unseasonable weather these days."
But with winter storms looming on any route, Dave leans towards I-40... Fewer knife-edge mountain passes, and plenty of pretty scenery. ("Lots of history in Oklahoma City.")
I point out the route would also take us near Las Vegas.
"Unfortunately, yes."
Dave, it seems, knows the open road comes with no guarantees.
But Colin and I are putting our money on I-40, hoping for a smooth ride to the craps tables of the crystal city.