ROUNDABOUTS: Something To Wrap Your Head Around

Why roundabouts?And how do they work?Well, in a roundabout way…I will try to explain. Roundabouts (also called Traffic Circles) were developed by the UK in the mid twentieth century.“Foreign” to some here in the U.S., I have people ask me what’s the point and how do they work.The “point” is, a normal intersection has a…

Auto Theft… You Hold The Key

According to the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles, thousands of cars are stolen in the state of Texas each year. The top stolen vehicle? The Ford F150.In fact, the top 3 most stolen vehicles in Texas are all pickup trucks…in Texas?…go figure. Of the top ten most stolen vehicles, the Taurus comes in at number…

You Drink, You Drive, You Dumb

When I moved to Texas in the late 70’s, everybody in the car could have an open container…even the driver.I thought you’d get a ticket if you didn’t drink and drive in Texas.Or, at the very least, you’d be called a pussy (by the cops).Being from out of state, I had the impression that Texas…

APRIL SHOWERS

  April showers bring May flowers. But, for Texans, they bring hydroplaning mayhem as well as vehicle drownings. In fact, Texas leads the Nation in vehicle drownings. Kind of sad, isn’t it? That they talk about the vehicle drowning and not the people in it??…Cold. Apparently, it’s mostly pick-up trucks. Really??In Texas??Go figure. If you…

THE LATEST IN CHILD SAFETY GUIDELINES

THE LATEST IN CHILD SAFETY GUIDELINES Both the American Academy of Pediatrics and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration issued new recommendations regarding child safety when riding in automobiles. This are just suggestions, of course. But they are based on evidence from crashes. Small children are safest in rear-facing car seats until age 2 (yes,…

Fear the green beer!

“Oh the luck of the Irish – Weee me pot-of-gold – U2 is my favorite band – the reason why God invented whiskey, so the Irish wouldn’t rule the world.”(old bar joke) St. Patrick’s Day is this Thursday and I’m already looking forward to the green beer, St.Pat’s parades, the green panties my cougar promised…

Car color and insurance rates

My dear old friend, Ray Pascoe, purchased a new car last Fall.A hot little Corvette convertible…in a sweet cherry red (a.k.a.mid-life crisis red).He claims that, prior to purchasing the “vette”, he had gotten one speeding ticket in the last 21 years! Since he purchased the car, within 6 months, he’s been pulled over at least…

SHOULD SAFETY BE “OPTIONAL”?

I am a Baby Boomer. A product of the 60’s. My father and mother were both from lower middle class families. Rising above, my Father’s success measured in new cars. Like that ’68 Toronado convertible with an 8-Track tape player, blasting the Ventures. This car was sharp, fast and loaded (like my cousin Amanda). One…