All Things Automotive with Ken
Fall brings with it a crispness in the air, seismic color shifts on the trees, weekend drives, and back-to-school. It’s all got me nostalgic for the Fall of 1978, when I was on the cusp of 16 and taking a driver’s ed class sandwiched between math and lunch and taught by a guy of many talents—my wrestling coach. Videos of bloodied accident scenes made a big impression, as did coach’s instructions that we stay alert, read all the traffic signs, and be certain to look all around, especially when in reverse.
I grew up in rural Wisconsin, and my Dad would take me out on long country roads, often covered in snow, and let me get behind the wheel of our family’s enormous Chevy Caprice. The beast did not have antilock brakes (ABS) or power steering, so pumping the brakes and learning how to maneuver in variable conditions were large parts of my paternal education.
As great as Dad and my coach were, I’ve had to unlearn some of the lessons they taught me, thanks to the always-quickening pace of automotive technology. Pumping the brakes, for example, is obsolete, because ABS is standard on all new cars; all you do is press and hold the brake pedal to stop in precarious conditions.
In this brave new world, there are plenty of ways to learn. If you’re into a high-performance driving school, I can tell you from personal experience that it’s a worthwhile investment. For everyday advice that covers you at all of life’s ages and stages, AAA has you covered.
As a AAA member, you can take advantage of a whole suite of Driver Safety programs, available at AAA.com/trafficsafety: Roadwise is an online defensive driving course for seniors; a child safety unit helps with anything from car-seat installation to safety presentations at school; and, this Fall, we’ll roll out a AAA-developed, state-approved driving curriculum that will make certain new drivers will be well prepared for life on the road. The rigorous curriculum will be used by AAA-approved partner driving schools.
As for wrestling pointers, if you need some of those, just hit me up; I’m sure I can remember a few.