Steppin' on my toes, sister Janisse! I seriously love this even though it's painful to read in this moment in my life; I'm in an unsolvable situation for the next 2 years where I have to get my kids to & from school using my car (it's a long, complicated story). But this has inspired me to be more mindful in other ways. I hope you don't soften your tone: it is your gift to the world. You are the prophet we need!
loved this article on driving. Have been doing most of these things for years. One thing I do that seems to drive others nuts....I go the speed limit, or below. I always catch up a few lights later to those who sped around me. Why can't we learn.....? I will share the article!
S. is so lucky to have you as a mom and a driving coach! I had a used first generation Prius, a 2001, I think. I bought it in 2002. The batteries failed under warranty, but then the hybrid system broke. I replaced it with a used Prius V that became my farm "truck" in 2013. It carried ducks, chickens, a ram, 2 rare pigs from Mississippi, and an occasional bale of hay. My intention is that it will be my last car, because it doesn't get much mileage. Great information here!
Love, love, love! As a CDL holder (former team truck driver), I find it ironic how much of this is taught in CDL school and in the company's safety programs. Wouldn't it be great if it could be taught to the new drivers as well? It would make us all safer on the roads and be great for the environment as well. Another point that resonated with me, is driving as little as possible. I live 20 minutes from town and when I was working remotely, I only went to town once a week, if that. I would sit at home watching neighbors leave home two or three times per day and continually ask myself, "Why? Where are the coming and going from? Am I just a weirdo/shut in/anti-social hermit because I never leave home?" Of course, the ironic thing here is that I grew up on this same farm and I remember being a teenager feeling isolated from the world because my daddy only went to town once/week too. I am my father's daughter after all.
Both practical and fun. OK, you hid the fierce in there too. Bravo for a great education piece!
I was always taught that a good driver is a smooth driver and try to remind my beloved of that when she jack rabbit starts or jumps on the brakes. She is getting better! I am enough of a penny-pinching Scotsman to have always kept an eye on how to save gas and wear and tear on the car. I drove manuals most of my life and did a lot of coasting in neutral. Many people don't know you can do this in automatics just as well. Recently, I was in between Cincy and Louisville and my gas range read miles lower than the next gas station distance. I was able to use several long down grades to flip the script and had extra range by the time I got to the station. My CRV has a green ring around the speedometer when you are in optimum efficiency range. I try to wear my "enviro-angel green halo" as much as possible. Positive feedback FTW! I commuted to work for 10 years on my bike. Now, gladly, I just take a few steps on my 'coffee-fueled only' commute to my home office. I have taught many young people to drive and always teach these principles as well as that 30-second idle rule since so many of them sit in fast food lines. That tire inflation item is no small thing either.
When I went off to college I was lonely and broke so found someone who also wanted to make the 8 hour drive to Atlanta often and share the driving and fuel cost. She taught me to watch the horizon ahead when driving- both to anticipate the need to slow down and to avoid tickets.
It is a fierce and courageous thing to drive without giving in to the hive-mind pell-mell rat race around you. Most people aren't up to it.
Here the city has taken to traffic calming with speed bumps ,bike lanes, crosswalks ,stop signs and roundabouts. Those who considered my street a "private expressway" are alarmed at this "woke' approach to traffic control; there's an old mechanic's saying-"The problem with cars is the nut that holds the wheel".
This is a delightfully perceptive essay. A reading nostalgia moment for me.......In James Jones’ novel SOME CAME RUNNING, one memorable character, Bama, a hard drinking, philosophical southern gambler plays his own ecological driving game. Jones’ description of Bama driving one night includes how he tries not to use the car’s braking system at all but instead coasts along slowly when he approaches traffic signals or upcoming stop signs and uses downhills to naturally increase his speed so he can coast up and over the next hill without using the gas petal.
Now, from the literary important POV, I read James Jones’ books - all of them - in 1968 when I was working in the Naval Station base library in Millington, TN. Jones’ classic bestseller FROM HERE TO ETERNITY made him rich and allowed him to live in Paris for twenty-five years. He created an American literary oasis for his writing friends who would visit him and his wife, Gloria Jones whenever they passed through Pris.
I was doing limited duty while recovering from a football accident in the Navy hospital and got lucky to be assigned to working in the base library which provided quiet time to read. - a lot. Isn’t it every author’s hope that their character description - we can assume Jones labored over to The Bama driving description to hone and perfect it - is to be appreciated and remembered by his readers years and years after the reader put down the book? I remembered Jones’ description just now.
That is such a funny memory of the character in Jones' book. I had to laugh aloud--he tries not to brake at all! I love it, Jeff, and thank you for adding that memory to this conversation. (And a confession....I need to read FROM HERE TO ETERNITY.)
Such an appealing letter & photos. Immediately I requested my library buy Mark’s book. Traveling by unicycle on America’s roads? He has to be brave & have a good story.
I drive an ‘02 manual transmission car, so slowly I go.
Yes, yes, yes to all of this. We drove a 2002 Honda Insight Hybrid for years and it taught us to hypermile and conserve fuel. We now have a Tesla but before buying it we installed solar panels. We now have a battery backup because, well, California and PG&E and wildfires. We don’t drive much and we’re conservative when we do but we’re happy our fuel is coming from the sun. And yes, the old Honda Insight is still working. We gave it to our daughter.
You began the article with that lovely photo of the horse and buggy which brings me to a pet peeve on the road. It seems drivers today just don’t understand that the less power you have, the greater your right of way. So many drivers roar around bicyclists and pedestrians with little concern for their safety. I would fear for any horse and buggy on California roads. Can’t we all just be a little kinder and more considerate?
Steppin' on my toes, sister Janisse! I seriously love this even though it's painful to read in this moment in my life; I'm in an unsolvable situation for the next 2 years where I have to get my kids to & from school using my car (it's a long, complicated story). But this has inspired me to be more mindful in other ways. I hope you don't soften your tone: it is your gift to the world. You are the prophet we need!
I’m looking for a new car and you’ve taught me a lot here. I like your tone, don’t change it.
That is a preachy tone. Oh well. All electric?
I couldn't repost this locally. I live in a community where aggressive driving is considered a right.
loved this article on driving. Have been doing most of these things for years. One thing I do that seems to drive others nuts....I go the speed limit, or below. I always catch up a few lights later to those who sped around me. Why can't we learn.....? I will share the article!
Some good information in here, thank you. I do some of these things but I can do more. I can’t believe anyone would refuel with the car on!
S. is so lucky to have you as a mom and a driving coach! I had a used first generation Prius, a 2001, I think. I bought it in 2002. The batteries failed under warranty, but then the hybrid system broke. I replaced it with a used Prius V that became my farm "truck" in 2013. It carried ducks, chickens, a ram, 2 rare pigs from Mississippi, and an occasional bale of hay. My intention is that it will be my last car, because it doesn't get much mileage. Great information here!
Here's to farming with Priuses.
Love, love, love! As a CDL holder (former team truck driver), I find it ironic how much of this is taught in CDL school and in the company's safety programs. Wouldn't it be great if it could be taught to the new drivers as well? It would make us all safer on the roads and be great for the environment as well. Another point that resonated with me, is driving as little as possible. I live 20 minutes from town and when I was working remotely, I only went to town once a week, if that. I would sit at home watching neighbors leave home two or three times per day and continually ask myself, "Why? Where are the coming and going from? Am I just a weirdo/shut in/anti-social hermit because I never leave home?" Of course, the ironic thing here is that I grew up on this same farm and I remember being a teenager feeling isolated from the world because my daddy only went to town once/week too. I am my father's daughter after all.
Lol. What used to be isolation is now pleasure.
Both practical and fun. OK, you hid the fierce in there too. Bravo for a great education piece!
I was always taught that a good driver is a smooth driver and try to remind my beloved of that when she jack rabbit starts or jumps on the brakes. She is getting better! I am enough of a penny-pinching Scotsman to have always kept an eye on how to save gas and wear and tear on the car. I drove manuals most of my life and did a lot of coasting in neutral. Many people don't know you can do this in automatics just as well. Recently, I was in between Cincy and Louisville and my gas range read miles lower than the next gas station distance. I was able to use several long down grades to flip the script and had extra range by the time I got to the station. My CRV has a green ring around the speedometer when you are in optimum efficiency range. I try to wear my "enviro-angel green halo" as much as possible. Positive feedback FTW! I commuted to work for 10 years on my bike. Now, gladly, I just take a few steps on my 'coffee-fueled only' commute to my home office. I have taught many young people to drive and always teach these principles as well as that 30-second idle rule since so many of them sit in fast food lines. That tire inflation item is no small thing either.
I marvel at how generous you are with thoughts and ideas.
When I went off to college I was lonely and broke so found someone who also wanted to make the 8 hour drive to Atlanta often and share the driving and fuel cost. She taught me to watch the horizon ahead when driving- both to anticipate the need to slow down and to avoid tickets.
It is a fierce and courageous thing to drive without giving in to the hive-mind pell-mell rat race around you. Most people aren't up to it.
Here the city has taken to traffic calming with speed bumps ,bike lanes, crosswalks ,stop signs and roundabouts. Those who considered my street a "private expressway" are alarmed at this "woke' approach to traffic control; there's an old mechanic's saying-"The problem with cars is the nut that holds the wheel".
Happy motoring(and sailing!)
"Traffic calming". What a phrase that is. We need "driver calming" too.
Janisse,
This is a delightfully perceptive essay. A reading nostalgia moment for me.......In James Jones’ novel SOME CAME RUNNING, one memorable character, Bama, a hard drinking, philosophical southern gambler plays his own ecological driving game. Jones’ description of Bama driving one night includes how he tries not to use the car’s braking system at all but instead coasts along slowly when he approaches traffic signals or upcoming stop signs and uses downhills to naturally increase his speed so he can coast up and over the next hill without using the gas petal.
Now, from the literary important POV, I read James Jones’ books - all of them - in 1968 when I was working in the Naval Station base library in Millington, TN. Jones’ classic bestseller FROM HERE TO ETERNITY made him rich and allowed him to live in Paris for twenty-five years. He created an American literary oasis for his writing friends who would visit him and his wife, Gloria Jones whenever they passed through Pris.
I was doing limited duty while recovering from a football accident in the Navy hospital and got lucky to be assigned to working in the base library which provided quiet time to read. - a lot. Isn’t it every author’s hope that their character description - we can assume Jones labored over to The Bama driving description to hone and perfect it - is to be appreciated and remembered by his readers years and years after the reader put down the book? I remembered Jones’ description just now.
That is such a funny memory of the character in Jones' book. I had to laugh aloud--he tries not to brake at all! I love it, Jeff, and thank you for adding that memory to this conversation. (And a confession....I need to read FROM HERE TO ETERNITY.)
Love this, thank you for the reminder!!
Or, just don't drive.
Such an appealing letter & photos. Immediately I requested my library buy Mark’s book. Traveling by unicycle on America’s roads? He has to be brave & have a good story.
I drive an ‘02 manual transmission car, so slowly I go.
Wow. A 2002 manual. Good for you. You must be in about 1 percent of the population to drive a manual.
Yes, yes, yes to all of this. We drove a 2002 Honda Insight Hybrid for years and it taught us to hypermile and conserve fuel. We now have a Tesla but before buying it we installed solar panels. We now have a battery backup because, well, California and PG&E and wildfires. We don’t drive much and we’re conservative when we do but we’re happy our fuel is coming from the sun. And yes, the old Honda Insight is still working. We gave it to our daughter.
You began the article with that lovely photo of the horse and buggy which brings me to a pet peeve on the road. It seems drivers today just don’t understand that the less power you have, the greater your right of way. So many drivers roar around bicyclists and pedestrians with little concern for their safety. I would fear for any horse and buggy on California roads. Can’t we all just be a little kinder and more considerate?
So is "hypermile" a verb? I don't know that word.