Arrived Safely

Not until fairly recently did it slip out after all these years, that the old man was known in the family as Mr. Safety. Affectionately one hopes. But partly at least because of my obsession with the safety ratings of the cars my loved ones drive.

In the internet age, abundant information is at the fingertips to help those who decide on the family cars, as we choose, assign, and buy wisely. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety http://www.iihs.org/ratings/ is one vital source. Another is safercar.gov a government website http://www.safercar.gov/Vehicle+Shoppers/5-Star+Safety+Ratings/2011-Newer+Vehicles of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Anyone who puts a beloved behind the wheel of other than the safest possible car is ... nevermind. But a son, daughter or spouse is irreplaceable, and the proverb is “Better safe than sorry.”

A third trusted source, Consumer Reports strongly advises parents not to follow the old dictum of assigning a young driver the old family car or buying them a cheap used car or a small car. The advice, indeed the wisdom, is that young and less experienced drivers drive the newest possible car with the latest and most complete array of safety features. Electric stability control, ESC, is a lifesaver for literally thousands of teenage drivers (and the rest of us too). So are side curtain air bags. Crash ratings tell how a candidate car compares, and roof strength tests have recently been stepped up to help choose the strongest vehicles to protect against injury and death in rollovers.

My Kristen, 18 too soon 19, is driving between PC and Atlanta now, six and a half hours of fast highway and hairy big city. She drives a 2008 car that she chose from Mr. Safety’s range of carefully researched and then-acceptable vehicles. It was perfect for her daily drive between West Beach Drive and Bay High. Smiling and waving brightly to Papa, she drove away happy and confident at 12 noon Tuesday, arriving safely at six thirty last evening. My happy girl. To herself, indestructible and no worries. But Mr. Safety did not have a good afternoon yesterday. Not at all.