It’s kind of sad to grow older and not have things work as well or as quickly as they used to. In one sense, my professor was faced with this reality when he had to go in for a mandatory driving test to prove that he could still drive and obey the rules of the road. If you ask me, they should administer tests like this to everyone no matter what their ages are. I have certainly seen my share of bad drivers under the age of 65!

Driving as a senior can be dangerous not only for the senior but for other people around that senior. When I was in the police department, we were forced to watch a video on knowing the difference between a drunk driver versus a senior driver versus someone who was off of their medications OR all three. My boyfriend, who also used to be a police officer, told me the story of how when he was on training with another officer during a night shift, they noticed that the vehicle in front of them was swerving all over the road. Immediately, they saw signs that indicated the person behind the wheel had to be a drunk driver.

When they eventually pulled the car over to the side of the road, they got out of their patrol car and noticed that the driver was beginning to open the door. Given the circumstances- the fact that it was at night and the fact that most people who open their driver door are up to no good (we had seen several police videos where the driver opened the door and proceeded to start shooting), they drew their guns and ordered the driver to remain in the vehicle. After the safely approached the vehicle, the realized that the driver was an elderly man who was somewhat disoriented after having just left the hospital only a half an hour earlier in the evening!

Unfortunately, growing older means that our reaction times aren’t as good as they used to be when we were younger, and this is extremely important to driving safely. Our reaction time is what helps to make us a more safe driver by increasing the amount of time that we have to avoid an accident with another vehicle or pedestrian. The best thing that seniors can do while driving is to avoid driving at times when the roadways are extremely crowded. For example, you may want to try driving earlier in the morning or a little later in the day after rush hour traffic has died down. All of this may help you to maintain some sense of independence as well as help you to avoid potential accidents.

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National Dispatch Car Transport

There is also a display of restored British motorcycles and an exhibit of rare speedway bikes. The Millennium Hall is devoted to cars from the last 25 years that could become the classics of the future, for example the 1981 Volkswagen Golf Gti and the 1998 Jaguar X1220. And those who are more interested in celebrity vehicles can leave Haynes and travel on to the Cars of the Stars Keswick on Standish Street in Keswick Cumbria. Here fans of James Bond will find a significant James Bond collection featuring several cars actually driven in the films. There is the copper colored Lotus Esprit Turbo that Roger Moore drove during the second part of the film ‘For your Eyes Only’ and the white Lotus esprit S1 of the famous chase in ‘The Spy Who Loved Me’. The museum’s regular collection showcases the famous wicker painted Mini Cooper used in the Pink Panther film, ‘A Shot in the Dark.’ Also included in the collection is a Herbie The Love Bug vehicle. This one was used in ‘Herbie Goes Bananas’ and is outfitted with gears and pedals so the driver can be unseen giving the appearance of a car with no driver. Batman fans will be pleased to see two Batmobiles and there is also the actual tuk-tuk taxi from the film ‘Octopussy’.

Racing enthusiasts will want to visit Donington Park near the East Midlands Airport. Donington features its famous Grand Prix collection that is the most extensive exhibit of single-seater racecars in the world. In addition to the cars, there is a display of memorabilia including helmets, gloves and old programs. And when tired of museums, it is also possible to join a tour of Britain’s exclusive automobile factories such as Rolls Royce and Bentley.

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In light of all of this information, it is always a good idea to do most of your traveling during the day if you can help it. If you really find that you have no other choice, then try to find a driving companion. If that doesn’t work, then you simply have to be on your toes. Carry a fully charged cell phone and a list of hand-written emergency numbers should your cell phone die and you have to use a pay phone or land line. Remember, just because the majority of people in the world have cell phones doesn’t meant that cell phones don’t occasionally fail to work, forcing us to [gasp] actually have to use a payphone. Having said that, make sure you always carry some loose change (at least a couple of dollars in change) and some small bills.

Keeping in mind that you are driving in a car, things can occasionally go wrong. If you are being pulled over by a police officer, you are within your right to keep going until you reach a well-lit area. If you have a flat tire or some other type of emergency, the same thing applies; make sure that you try your best to get to an area that is at least marginally lighted so that you can see better around you. If you are traveling and leaving early in the morning or even if you’re traveling at all, always make sure that you personally inspect your vehicle beforehand. Check all of your tires the day before and make sure that the tire pressure is correct. Filling up your gas tank so that you start off with a full tank of gas is always a good idea to do the day before while it is light out- this way you won’t have to stop for gas so early in the morning when it is dark.

In order to avoid having to stop too many times in areas in which you are unfamiliar, pack some snacks before hand and pay attention to roadway signs that point out gas stations and fast food restaurants along the way. While you may not like fast food, remember that it is better to remain in your car as often as you can until you reach your final destination. If you do need to stop, make sure that it’s in an area where there are a comfortable amount of people. Avoid stopping at places that look deserted or in which there are only one or two people floating around.

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Whenever I see people speeding, I wonder what the major emergency is. Sometimes I think it would be fun to follow one of these speeders back to wherever it is they’re in a rush to get to just to see what the situation is. Perhaps they have a loved one who just called them from the hospital. Perhaps there is an emergency with their pet or child. After giving it some thought, I’ve reasoned that I bet it is none of those things. I bet people speed because a) they really have to go to the bathroom b) they’re just in a bad mood c)they hate driving so much that they can’t wait to get out of their car and hit the couch for a little rest and relaxation in front of the television. My guess is that nine times out of ten it’s probably the last choice….or it could be road rage.

I remember being an athlete in high school when I first got my driver’s license. It was strange to suddenly be on the roadways, sharing the road with other, more experienced drivers. I remember being a little upset if another driver would pass me in another lane. I was extremely competitive in sports and didn’t like getting beat, and wouldn’t you know that it tentatively transferred over to my driving? As a form of recourse, I would speed up in my car in order to stay ahead of other drivers who apparently thought little of my driving. Before it got too out of hand, I realized that what I was doing was silly. My dad would reprimand me every time I would return with his car saying, “You’ve got a lead foot!” It seemed that everyone who drove with me noticed that I liked to speed and that I was starting to get annoyed with the “slow drivers”. I remember thinking that slow drivers shouldn’t be allowed on the roadways.

Road rage affects all of us at some point in our lives. I am lucky that my stint with road rage didn’t result in me getting into any accidents. However, other people aren’t quite as lucky. There are a few mental techniques that we can try in an effort to soothe these outbursts of emotion that we feel while driving. The first thing that we have to remember is that driving is a privilege, not a right. When you are operating a vehicle, realize that it can be used as a deadly weapon to kill someone if you are negligent, not paying attention or driving aggressively.

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There was a time when purchasing an SUV might have mad more sense. Remember when the Hummers first hit the scene as being a vehicle for the all American, cookie cutter family? Then we saw the explosion of the once soccer moms hitting the terrain in these vehicles that looked more cut out for a desert excursion than for a girl scouts meeting at the church. People became annoyed with those who owned Hummers, accusing them of being selfish drivers who cut people off and hogged multiple parking spaces in mall parking lots. Looking back now, I’m pretty sure that these people weren’t hogging the parking spots on purpose- it was just that they couldn’t figure out how to park the vehicles!

Today, with people losing their jobs left and right and an economy that is almost set to fail under the rise of inflation, and the bankruptcy of major car producers such as General Motors and Chrysler, people are opting out of buying sports utility vehicles, and are instead focusing more on driving energy efficient, compact cars. If all else fails and they’ve still got legs to walk on, they’re breaking out their best pair of walking or running shoes and hitting the pavement.

The worst thing that I used to see when the SUV revolution was in high swing were all of these college guys with the huge pickup trucks that had absolutely nothing in them. Here were all of these shiny, good-as-new- pickup trucks parked all over campus with no indication about them that they were used for anything other than looking pretty in a parking space. “What a waste!” I remember thinking. When I think of pickup trucks being used, I think of work that needs to be done on farms toting hay or feed around. I think of mudflaps and dirt caked on the sides. I don’t think about fancy rims on the wheels and strategically placed decals.

When you buy a car, or perhaps when you’ve bought a car in the past, what do you find yourself thinking about? Are you thinking about how cool you will look to all of your friends, family , and/or peers? It seems that when most people purchase sports utility vehicles, they don’t think in reasonable, practical terms. Why, if I based my next vehicle purchase on emotion or anything outside the realm of reason, I’d probably end up with a Passat, or an Audi TT Quatro- both of which are way out of my price range right now. We need to be more vigilant about our purchases. Unless you have a lot of people or things to transport around a lot, then you probably don’t really need an SUV to help out.

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If you come out to your driveway or wherever you last had your vehicle parked and you realize that it’s gone, the first thing you’ll want to do is contact your local police department. If you are out of town, obviously it will make sense to contact the police who have jurisdiction in that particular area. While you are waiting for the police to arrive, think back to the last time your car was parked there. Information that the police will want to know will be include such questions as: What time did you last see your car? Were the car doors locked? Do you have a working, audible alarm system? What sorts of valuables did you have in the vehicle? What does the vehicle look like? What’s the make, model and year? Did you notice any strange people in the area prior to your car being stolen or suspect any strange activity?

As a general rule, it is always a good idea to leave your vehicle as empty as possible if you can. Do not leave valuables in your car. For example, I have known some people to leave wallets mp3 players, jewelry and medication out in the open in their vehicles. This is the biggest mistake that you can make! Not only will a thief want to gain access to your car because you’ve carelessly left these items out in the open, but you’ll be to blame for them getting stolen! No matter how safe you think your neighborhood is, always always lock your car doors. As an added safety precaution, if you have a driveway, park in it. Even better, if you have a garage, use it to park your car in. I can’t tell you how many people don’t do this! Purchasing outdoor lighting that automatically clicks on whenever there is movement is another small expense that will pay for itself ten times over.

Forming a community watch in which your neighbors look out for suspicious activity is another great idea. Watch for unfamiliar vehicles driving slowly throughout your neighborhood as well as strange people walking by and peering into vehicles. Call the police if you see strange people trying the door handles of cars or walking around with crowbars or other strange objects in their hands such as a Slim Jim. It is most likely and indication of their intentions. Most importantly, if you hear a strange noise or something that sounds like someone breaking into your car or your neighbor’s car, call the police and write down as much information as you are able to observe while it is going on such as the race, and clothing description of the suspect. The last thing you want to do is go out on your own to intercept a thief because you don’t know what they are armed with.

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