The appeal of driving

Cars are usually seen to be very anti-social, damaging machines. Even though they afford us unparallelled personal mobility, they are also metal cocoons that isolate us from one another and often turn mild-mannered individuals into arseholes, wankers, cows, tossers and the like. En masse, they consume vast amounts of energy and emit huge amounts of pollution. And even if you don't subscribe to the idea that car exhaust is contributing heavily to global warming, it's effects on breatheable air can't be denied.

But the appeal of owning a car is not just restricted to convenience and ease of movement. I think that, for a huge percentage of the motoring populace, one of the major appeals is the feeling of power and control that is had when 'behind the wheel'. Cars are expensive, complex, heavy and powerful; the fact that we can own these machines, and control them with a mere flex of the ankle and twirl of the wrist is what makes transportation by any other means - particularly for those who have a choice - a very difficult concept to abandon.

For me, as a weekend driver, it's not only about the freedom and control, but the sensations of acceleration, deceleration and cornering that provide a huge rush. It's also about the challenge of testing the limits of adhesion; understanding the physical forces acting on each tyre, the suspension, and the chassis; using that understanding to extract the most grip, and being able to manage the eventual loss of grip and bring 3000 lbs of metal from the brink. The sounds and sensations that come from all of this is huge fun.

So, in spite of living in a part of London where a car is irrelevant on most days, having fast affordable personal mobility for myself and my family on longer journeys and cold, inclement days, plus the fun factor during out-of-town drives and track days makes owning a car a great proposition for me.

Satellite Navigation - Gimmick or The Future?

The other day I came across a forum where the topic of satnav systems were being discussed. The question for debate was whether they were genuinely useful, or merely a gimmick and a distraction. My thoughts on the topic were as follows:

"From my own personal experience, using my TomTom Go has made navigation easier and safer. And with the speed camera database I've added to the unit (updated monthly) my journeys are far less stressful, and I've been able to divert more of my attention to actually driving, rather than partially scanning for GATSOs and the like.

"I actually enjoy poring over maps, and absorbing the geographical knowledge they bestow upon the reader. I also enjoy 'discovering' a place by using my map- and sign-reading skills. However, when actually having to drive to unfamilliar destinations in a timely fashion, relying solely on a map can become very time-consuming and, in the case of navigating town centres and one-way systems, confusing, distracting and dangerous.

"In this sense, using my satnav unit - as a supplementary guide - is superior to only reading a map, receiving imprecise directions from passers-by, and trying to spot and interperet potentially obscure signs in unfamilliar locations, whilst jostling for position with moving traffic. I've placed my unit in at the bottom-right of my windscreen, and find that the vocal instructions are delivered in plenty of time to prepare myself for the next change of direction. The graphics, when they are needed, are very easy to interperet at-a-glance. When I don't require its services, it being on does not distract me at all.

"My model also uses Bluetooth to connect to my mobile, and becomes a very effective and completely hands-free device when (short) phone conversations must take place.

"For me, this technology is similar to power steering or traction control - technology that should not take the place of attentive and skilled driving, but does make it easier and, in many instances, safer."

For the full discussion in the forum this was posted, you can go here.