We’re only as good as our last drive

In the era of high-buck fuel, most of us try to attain good fuel mileage. This is a fine idea, but the subject has been covered fairly well by many, like me, during the recent price hikes. I have reminded you to keep clean filters and oil in your vehicles, and to check tire pressure with precision and regularity. Those many others and I have even harped upon you to alter your driving habits to save fuel.

All of this is for a good cause — saving money and lowering national fuel demand — however, there is another “good mileage” that you should achieve besides your fuel mileage, and that is your total mileage. It represents your “seat time,” or driving practice.

Inland Northwest drivers sometimes must try hard to boost their driving practice time, or total mileage. If you never leave Spokane, for example, you may have a tough time exceeding 5,000 annual miles, unless you are a commercial driver. Many commercial drivers rack up over 100,000 miles in their driving duties — that is substantial practice!

Every driver has a tally for lifetime mileage, and for current annual mileage. For a dozen years or so, my annual total topped 60,000 miles. That was about 20 years ago, a period where I felt very practiced in the driving craft. Since then, my yearly mileage accumulations have been around 20,000, and I need to throw in some long trips to keep it at that level, and keep up my practice. Where does your mileage level stand?

In driving, the old adage “practice makes perfect” may not quite apply, but practice does help improve driving and interacting with traffic. Even in a lifetime of driving, one may not see every scenario, but with greater exposure, you deal with repeat situations and learn from them.

So to me, total miles, and recent mile rates have an effect on your driving competence rating. A young driver who has only driven 5,000 miles total has yet to encounter many of drivings’ escapades, and an elderly driver who only logs 1,000 miles annually hasn’t practiced much lately, even though her total may be huge.

This is why, fuel mileage be darned, I use all reasonable opportunities to get continued driving experience by logging that good old seat time. I offer to be the driver when possible, and even though our airlines need business, I opt to drive over flying when time is not a major factor. On shorter trips, like Spokane to Seattle, the time advantage of flying is even questionable. Four hours on the road will get you to your West Side destination in comparable time to an airplane when you consider check-in, flight, and obtaining transportation upon arrival.

Besides, the serenity of the open road is appealing to me — albeit with occasional maniacal driver encounters. Back to serenity though — as I was driving west near Ritzville this week, there was a point where I could count over 60 vehicles enjoying the wonderful paved track that we have the privilege to drive upon — it really warmed my heart to see the roadway full of drivers working on their proficiency.

By the way, at that point of the highway, I could see about 5 miles ahead — the vehicles with DRLS (daytime running lights), or with lights on, seemed no more visible to me than the others. In fact, the shapes of the vehicles were clearer on the lightless ones — but I digress.

As mentioned, I think that the Spokane-to-Seattle run is just a short hop at around four hours. If you want a little less practice, how about the Tri-Cities jaunt? It’s only three hours. You just want an hour or so? How about Pullman or Sandpoint? For those after a bit more practice, Portland can be found in five hours.

You get the idea — Bend, Ore., eight hours; Sacramento, Calif., 12 twelve hours; Knoxville, Tenn., 30 hours, and so on. Whether it is a short hop, a long haul, a road trip or a downright journey, simply try it — you might like it! You’ll get to know your car better, for sure.

Now if the subject of mpg (miles per gallon) comes to mind, it should remind you that tlm (total lifetime miles) or tam (total annual miles) are just as important. Remember, when it comes to driving, you are only as good as your last outing. Please keep practicing!