Thanksgiving has a special place in my heart. It’s a reminder to pause and express gratitude for the things that make life worth living. When is the last time you thanked your car for everything it does? Here are six things every driver should be thankful for (#1 is my favorite!).
1. GPS
There’s a talking robot in your pocket that can tell you how to reach any destination. How cool is that?
2. The Interstate Superhighway
The interstate connects 46,876 miles of roads in the United States. Are you antsy to travel? Act on it! You can go anywhere with an assist from a GPS or road map.
3. Super Cool Safety Enhancements
Car wrecks killed 35,092 people in 2015. Compare that to 54,589 deaths in 1972… what happened? Cars got safer. Air bags and safety belts have saved more than 100,000 lives, according to NHTSA.
New cars come with safety features like back-up cameras, lane departure warning systems, and more. Self-driving cars are coming soon. It’s too early to predict how many lives all this new tech will save.
4. Conveniently Located Gas Stations
Like your body needs food, your car needs gasoline: an energy source for your hard-working engine. Ethanol is my favorite alternative energy source. Read more at American Ethanol (I’m on page #20!).
Have you ever put off refueling and found yourself stuck on a long stretch of road without a gas station in sight? That’s the worst! Get in the habit of stopping for gas when you reach a quarter tank to be safe.
5. Designated Drivers Who Cover Your Butt
Drinking and driving is a terrible idea. No one is a better driver when they are drunk. Alcohol increases your reaction time and risk of traffic accidents. If you plan to drink, find a designated driver (DD) first.
Designated drivers make our streets a safer place. They sacrifice the right to party now so their friends can get home in one piece later. If you know someone who does this, make sure to tell them: “Thanks!”
6. Car Stereos and MP3/CD/Cassette* Players
Can you imagine driving really far with nothing but the sound of your engine to entertain you? Yawn! Thank goodness for Paul Gavin, who invented the car radio in 1930. We used to make mix tapes /CD’s for road trips. Today we can stream any song that has ever been recorded in the history of time. Wow!
*I know that’s old-school, but I wanted to be thorough. 😉
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