The inevitable march of technology has by-passed some parts of this textbook.  A few examples:  Cars now claim they can parallel park themselves.  Very little background knowledge is needed to start the engine of a modern car, even in extreme cold.  Electrically powered cars are gaining popularity; even hydrogen fuel-cell powered cars might soon be competing with gas and diesel engine automobiles.  Paddleshifted automatic transmissions may be replacing stickshifts. Global positioning systems do not require much map-reading skill.  Self-driving cars promise to eliminate DUI.  The controlled, confident, safe backing-up maneuvers described in chapter six, “Doing It Backwards,” have been  corrosively attacked by modern cars that feature back-up cameras in place of adequate rearward visibility.

Important Addendum

Okay, you’ve been warned, but remember Denise McCluggage’s “Mr. Zuber has carefully thought through every point he wants to make and often comes up with a unique approach that creates a quick arc of illumination.  You slap the book and shout ‘Exactly.'”

So do not neglect or disregard JOYRIDING: A Practical Manual for Learning the Fundamentals of Masterful Driving because “advances” in automotive technology seem to make it antique.  Instead, embrace it as a classic for the precious information it provides about driving – which does not change.  Make all your drives joyrides!

Kenneth L. Zuber