If you are one of the millions reading this blog, you need to go out to your car immediately after reading and take stock of what is in your seats and floorboards. But before you do, let's make a bet.
I am betting one or more of the following items will be found in your car, either on the floor, on the dashboard, or somewhere on the seat(s). Ready? Keep count!
1. A CD or cassette tape holder
2. Some kind of book (phone book, fiction, directory, coloring, etc.)
3. Some type of headphone apparatus, including wires
4. Fast food wrappers (folded, spindled, or mutilated)
5. Actual fast food remnants
6. A small stuffed toy
7. A ball (sports, toy, bouncy, etc.)
8. Napkins (used, unused, hard to tell) - see #4
9. A piece of clothing (yours, theirs, unknown, etc.)
10. Pencils, pens, tablets, paper (how literary are you?)
So, how many did you add up? There is no way to make this bet pay off, but I am betting that over 80% of you reading had to admit to having 6 out of 10 in your car. OK, so there is no way to prove this either, but hopefully the point is made.
And that point is?
Many years ago, I watched some awful movie about a guy running from the law in a hopped up musclecar. I would imagine the car was the brightest part of the movie. Anyway, in the movie, this dude running from the po po had a guitar in the car, but in the chase scene the guitar somehow got lodged under the brake pedal. When the assumed fugitive had to stomp on the brakes to avoid running off a cliff, the now broken guitar prevented the brake pedal from engaging, and the hapless chap went over the cliff. Sad story, but what I came away with in my pre-driving days was: "clean out those floorboards!"
Fast forward from then to when I was indeed driving, and as you may already guess, I was driving my own car, a hopped up '71 Nova, and during some spirited driving, a cassette tape holder (can you guess the year) got loose and got under my brake pedal. Ladies and gentlemen, let me tell you I can still remember vividly how desperately I stomped my own pedal. Suffice to say, I broke through the flimsy plastic holder and after coming to a halt, promptly got out, rearranged my interior, and moved on. Dear reader, let me say that even at the time of this near accident, I kept my interior spotless. I had just failed to remember that I had stuffed a few extra cassette tapes under the drivers seat months earlier.
Why is this important? Maybe you'll never had a foreign objects under your brake foot, but I wouldn't count on it, and really, doesn't a clean car make sense? What's that? You've never seen the interior of your car clean?
Oh dear reader, if you do want to be a precision driver (refer to my initial blog) you will recognize the inherent value of having clean car, interiorally speaking. Why? May I submit another list? Thank you!
Good, decent, American reasons to keep the interior of your car clean:
1. Do I really need to mention the whole brake pedal scenario?
2. Potentially lower the weight of your vehicle
3. Could keep the insects from taking over (don't laugh - some cars have been infested with ants)
4. It will provide room for you to place your feet
5. Getting all that junk out will allow you to see just how filthy your floor mats are. What's that? Didn't know you had floormats?
6. Didn't talk much about dashboards, but cleaning off that area will let your defroster work properly, and it will keep dangerous reflections from impeding your view, especially on bright days.
Go ahead and scoff, but when (not if) you have to stomp the brake pedal, or when (hopefully never, but odds are against you) you are rear ended, you will be so very glad you cleaned out your floorboards, removed all that junk off the dash and the seats, so that you could come away unscathed by such items. Besides, a precision driver just enjoys a clean, pristine car. Don't you?
CAR CARE TIP OF THE WEEK
A new feature added to "Driving Me Crazy" will be a car care idea that hopefully will aid you as you endeavor to become a Precision Driver. So, here is your first installment...
The winter months are in full bloom, and that means shorter days, more nasty precipitation, and decreased visibility. Those three are an ugly combination, but there are things you can do to counter.
First, install new wiper blades. If your blades are less than 3 months old, never mind, but if older, get new ones. It's likely a $10 purchase and will help immensely. By the way, regardless of how old your wiper blades are, during winter months especially, wipe them down with some silicone protectant (Armor All, Son of a Gun, etc.) at least once every two weeks. This keeps them supple and makes them resistant to freezing or ice sticking to them.
Second, use some kind of windshield protectant/ wax. I don't want to get into any trouble with manufacturers, but I personally use Rain X, and it works great. Buy a bottle and follow the simple instructions. Products like this or similar are not gimmicks, and if you use them regularly (twice a month, especially in the winter time) you will notice a dramatic difference in visibility and with water shedding. Frankly, I use this product all year round and I rarely have to even engage my wiper blades. My windshield is so slick the water just sheets off, especially after speeds of 30 mph or higher. Don't stop at the windshield - apply it to the side windows, the back light, and even the headlights/ covers.
Third, clean the inside of your windows. The best method I have used is to get some newspaper (black and white print only) and a good quality window spray. If you haven't done this in awhile, or ever, be prepared for the dramatic difference, especially on humid, cold days.
Fourth, check that windshield wiper reservoir. Again, especially in the winter, keep it full of good quality (usually $2 or less a gallon) wiper fluid.
Fifth, check all your lights. Replace immediately any burned out headlight, including one that is just burned out on the high beam, if so equipped. Check all parking lights, tail lights, and turn signals. You want to see as much as be seen.
Nothing on the list above is expensive or time consuming. If you follow these simple protocols, your driving experience will improve dramatically and you will be able to face the nastiest winter weather with confidence.
So, go out to the garage and get started!
Drive precise!
