Women drivers: Pass on that drink. And, the next one. And, the next one.  Not only for your safety and protection, but for the safety and protection of another’s life.

Our friends at the NHSTA say ‘buzzed driving is still drunk driving’. Make no mistake. I know. Some of us have driven buzzed. And, we got home safely. After doing this a few times, we become Herculean in our impaired state and continue doing so each time we go out. Like it is OK. Like it is SOP.

No more.

 

US Transportation Secretary, Ray LaHood, on Wednesday declared that a national campaign to curtail drunk driving is underway between now and Labor Day– with the spotlight on women drivers. Over a 9 year run, from 1998 through 2007, DUI charges and arrests for women increased by an overwhelming 30%. At the same time, the number for men increased 7.5%.

 

The AP reports that in 2008, 11,773 lives ended in accidents involving drunk drivers. I assert that we all have been in towns the size of 11,000 or smaller. In fact, some of you live in those communities. So, imagine in one year, an entire ‘hometown’ disappearing. Incredible.

Ladies, let's welcome this initiative. Drive smart, be safe. As you are making plans for the evening ask for support. Be intentional about it. Ask your trusted friend or mate to support you by shutting you off after 2 drinks. Simple as that. And by the same token, take your friends keys when it’s appropriate - no need to be ‘nice and I tried my best’ as they walk out the door to get behind the wheel. 

Drive Your Bargain,

 

Anne

Car Buying Advocate

www.twitter.com/womendrivers

Things are not ever really be as they seem or appear. Take a loving, honorable  and integrous Governor from South Carolina, for example. Better yet, take the Cash for Clunkers program.

While the extra $2 Billion was passed and secured (read: taken from another auto-related fund), emotion and rational is coming into play for many dealers.

• Payments from the government are already being delayed to dealers.  How long will it take for the reimbursment period to take? And, will all cars sold under this program ultimately be reimbursed the full amount?
• Just what was that spot on FOX News about the www.cars.gov website last week? Specifically, that anyone who linked to this website, could have their content become the property of the US government. I still have no idea if that report was 'FOX truth' or 'the truth'. Pretty scary, either way.
• After the Clunker Kitty runs dry and everybody gets theirs - while taking advantage of this substantial $4,500 and $3,500 reduction of a new car purchase- will the American consumer go back to a holding pattern on new car buys like the previous 18 months?

So, what gives? No one really knows. In all of our hoopla and excitment, things are not always what they seem. In fact, they rarely are.

Drive Your Bargain,

Anne

 

I have it that those in government are a bunch of really smart-witted politico aficionados who stand right by right in a two-sided boardroom. That the conversation, the debate, the on-going banter, the fickleness, the redundancy and pontificating monologues can be just a tad unnecessary and self promoting.

Now, I am not saying that my POV is a correct or a particularly intelligent one, mind you. I certainly have never even wanted to be elected into office, so I sit in the stands and have my opinions and bark a lot and talk about what the talking is about. And guess what? Who cares about some uninformed subjective opinion of mine? Mmmmm, precisely!

 

In fact, the more I think about it, I am sure our forefathers (well, the actors I saw that were playing our forefathers in the HBO series ‘John Adams,’ anyway) actually wanted and created government to be set up this way. There are too many people and too many interests and too much money for anything to take one simple conversation in a ‘Congress afternoon’. There is too much at stake for our country and our greatness that never can one single way be the right way. There really are endless possibilities which can take time to develop and unfold.  

Then there can also be conversations in a ‘Congress afternoon’ which occur swiftly and result in immediate effectiveness. Where an opening - an offer - is made to the American people. And the American people respond with a swift and unanimous answer.

This week, in a vote of 316 – 109, the House allocated another 2/3’s funding, or $2 billion dollars, towards the Cash for Clunkers program geared to take gas guzzlers off the road and assist consumers in buying new fuel efficient vehicles. It moves to the Senate next week. The Cash for Clunkers program has had the most positive impact on showroom traffic, industry sales and boost in emotion seen in years. And, it is emotion that peaks the invisible hand in tipping momentum and the market.  

Ford and Honda have reported plus earnings this quarter. Mazda reports theirs on Monday. In fact, Mazda’s President & CEO Jim O’Sullivan reported yesterday that “57% of Mazda’s sold under this program have been the 2010 MAZDA 3, a most affordable and great looking car that starts under $16,000 and gets 33 miles to the gallon.”  Check out this model http://www.mazdausa.com/MusaWeb/display2010Mazda3.action?vehicleCode=M3S&directPath=m3s/home&bhcp=1

For more on updates and fine line criteria on the Cash for Clunkers program visit www.cars.gov.  Here is to Congress having a few more ‘Congress afternoons’.

It’s a remarkable time to buy a car so Drive Your Bargain,

 

Anne

www.twitter.com/womendrivers