The Last day of the Year

For those drivers who have made it to this day we have been lucky and responsible in our driving experience. Now we come down to the very last day of the year, having survived until now, but we are facing the most insane period of the year: New Year's celebrations. We will go out to join in some form of activity that will almost certainly involve alcohol.

For most people the celebrations will be about welcoming in 2017, with hope for improvement and a better life, but the toast will be with cava and other booze. I have always been a little confused by this because no-one can know what the new year will actually bring, so what are we celebrating? We can hope, we can guess, and we can personally be positive, but what actually will take place during the year is anybody's guess.

I always prefer to confine my toast to what I know. In spite of 2016 having been the year of staggering stupidity and a mess, for me and my family the year was good to us. It allowed me to write and publish two books; and for our son he has made great progress in his chosen career in the mountains of the Spanish Pyrenees. All three of us have enjoyed good health, which really was on the top of our wish list, and remains there for 2017.

So, although the year has not yet ended I can wish for you and us that we take care to drive carefully so that we live to see in the new year. At least we can do our part to make 2017 the safest for travel. We always have a choice: we can overtake, or not; we can cruise at too much speed for that stretch of road, or not: and, perhaps most importantly we can choose to intake something that will impair our judgement and drive, or not: Only you and I can drive for ourselves. It's solely up to us.

Happy Motoring 2017!

Copyright (c) 2016
Eugene Carmichael  

FOUL Weather Driving

At this time the weather along the Eastern coast of Spain, normally referred to as The Costa del Sol, is anything but Sol. For almost two weeks the rain has been coming down in response to our prayers. We've got rain, more than we can use, but it's still better to have to wish for the rain to stop than for it to start. Wishing for it to start could mean years before our wish is fulfilled.

Many of the Eastern communities are experiencing flooding, and in one tragic case a man was trying to save his beloved car but was swept out to sea. All those of us who love our machines as though they were a part of our hearts will understand his bravery.

On the roads we are finding we have to be careful as we go from dry patch to road rivers. There are the warnings that suggest that only if we have to go on the roads should we do so. If that something we think we need that will take us out of the house can really wait until tomorrow, then let it wait.

I was out of the house today and found most people to be driving with caution and commonsense, but there always has to be at least one absolute shit for brains. I just wish he would come to grief on his own without involving anyone else, but do it quickly.

On a past occasion I was driving cautiously when I saw coming up from behind me a van that started to overtake me along a short but straight bit of road. What is wrong with this imbecile? I thought. Just after he passed me, in returning to the proper side of the road he slammed into a massive pool of water and aquaplaned right off the road into a ditch. However, he couldn't quite turn completely on his side because of restraining earth, thus leaving the driver's side very high and dry.

I slowed to a crawl and as I passed him he looked down on me. I looked up at him with great concern etched on my forehead, although I didn't stop to help him. Why the hell should I have got involved with all that would have been necessary to sort out that situation.

It was only when I got around the next bend did I allow myself to laugh my ass off.

Please lower your speed and exercise due care and attention in these circumstances. I appeal to all to do this in both your own interest as well as mine.

Copyright (c) 2016
Eugene Carmichael

'Tis Christmas time again

Although I would not say that I am a practising Christian I will say to all who care, Have a Merry Christmas, full of good cheer and goodwill to all men. This is the way it has always been in Christian countries, but due to some very ignorant people it seems to be under threat. They say we should not show outright examples of celebrations for the Christmas spirit. Instead of Merry Christmas we should say, "Happy Holidays!" That would only be appropriate in the case of a mixed group of people who celebrate different religious groupings.

Seemingly, the reason for down playing Christmas is because we might offend some people, such as the Moslems. Even the Moslems are saying, "Eh?" Why would we be offended, we know this is a Christian country, and while we would like to see it convert to Islam, which is highly unlikely, we take no offense with your customs. If we can't accept what goes on here we can simply pull up stakes and return to our own country.

So, there is really no reason why we need to down play customs and traditions. I personally will look on from the sidelines and encourage anyone else who wants to get stuck into the fiestas. I must say that I prefer the Spanish way of Christmas celebrations. Rather than an orgy of shopping, which has nothing to do with the Christian meaning of this time of year, it is all about being with family and friends on the 24th and 25th December. Gift giving is done on the 6th January, Reyes, the day of the Three Kings.

I mention this because the Christmas fiestas do generate a lot of wining and dining among friends and colleagues. Inevitably it also involves a lot of driving home after the party when it is very difficult not to partake in the flow of wine and cava as we toast one another. I will have to remind myself, as I do every year at this time, that I have been good all year long by refraining from driving after drinking. This is not the time to change, because a fatal crash from intoxication will have ever lasting consequences for my family and yours.

So, Merry Christmas to each and everyone, or if you prefer Happy Holidays! Just so that we drivers all do our parts towards making the fiestas safe.


Copyright (c) 2016
Eugene Carmichael

Distractions

Driving is so common place in today's world that we just take so many things for granted. Unfortunately, so many people fail to realise the difference between being in their living room and their car. The difference can be summed up in one word: concentration.

From the moment we start up the engine we are in another world that requires our full focus from the off. So many people pull out into traffic and immediately crash into a passing car. If we avoid doing that there is the normal distractions of traffic. While paying attention to what's happening in our lane we must also be aware of what going on around us. What will the drivers to our right and to our left do next. Here in Spain there is no recognition of lane discipline, so the person to our extreme left may want to go to the right, and will do so crossing all traffic. Stay alert!

Knowing full well that drivers need to concentrate the department for roads allow billboards to be placed in strategic locations to distract us with stupid messages selling us stuff. If we read all that crap we would kill ourselves and others as well. This is pure and simple greed for money and is totally irresponsible.

In the car, if we turn our head to the right without consciously holding the wheel steady, our hand will follow our eyes and we find ourselves driving off the road, or worse, into oncoming traffic if we look left. Even glancing down to check my speed just for a split second disorients me. If I want to select a radio station to listen to I have to do it all by touch without taking my eyes off the road. If you are my passenger and you are talking to me don't expect me to look at you.

So, why on earth are manufacturers making dashboard screens for drivers to watch which are called infotainment centres? We have long had Tom-Tom type GPS systems, but at least there is a voice telling us when to turn left and right. These new systems provide a wide choice of information and entertainment. Some of the more sensible systems don't operate while the car is underway, but others make no such distinction. Surely, this is not right.

I suppose the manufacturers will say that they depend on the common sense of drivers. Well, don't take that to the bank. If common sense was always at work on the roadways we would have no collisions at all. I think it goes the other way round. We are depending on the common sense of your designers to produce products that don't put dangerous temptation in our way.

The most amazing thing about all of this is that one of the offenders is Volvo, the leading name in car safety. When asked to comment the company failed to do so. Come on Volvo, I have always believed in you. I know you can do better.

Bring on self-driving cars!

Copyright (c) 2016
Eugene Carmichael