DRIVING ABOUT
This morning on my morning drive to one of the various court houses I visit, I was looking at my steering wheel. One glances at, sees, and usually has one's hands on it continually while driving. Having your hand or hands, as the case may be, on the steering wheel is a proper activity associated with operating a motor vehicle.
It occurred to me, however, that I really didn't know much about my steering wheel. I counted ten buttons on my steering wheel, all of which had minute drawings on them, apparently denoting their function. What occurred to me further was the fact that I had no idea the purpose of any of the ten buttons. No clue. It further occurred to me that while driving was not the time to experiment with the buttons right in front of me on the steering wheel.
Since the only time I am in my vehicle, I am driving it, there has never been a good time in which to study these buttons or, in the alternative, or to read the manual. Further, I foresee nothing in the future that will change. I don't believe that it would be appropriate for me to begin pushing buttons on the steering wheel if I am not the driver. It would probably annoy the person actually doing the driving and might even cause an accident.
This brings us to the subject of the manual. The manual, several manuals to be exact, are located in the glove box. They are very thick - - I have removed the manuals from the glove box and felt their thickness. There must be a whole lot of material in those manuals. I, however, have not read any of them and have no intention of doing so. If someone else wants to read the manuals in the glove box of my car, they are welcome to do so.
I have been able to get to my destination every time I have driven my car - - I have not been required to push any of the buttons on my steering wheel to do so nor have I been required to read the manual. I will admit however that there are several buttons on the dash that I do push quite regularly such as the up and down buttons controlling the temperature. And I will admit I do know which button is the air conditioning and do push it on and off as the need requires.
I have been instructed on several occasions to read the manuals. In addition to instructions to do so, I have had numerous people suggest that I do so so that I know the function of these buttons - - that knowing the function of these buttons is a good thing. Let's just be clear about this: I have no inclination to punch any of these ten buttons. I don't care what these buttons are for and I don't want to know what they are for as long as my car gets me to where I want to go: It just isn't necessary. After all, isn't this what cars are for - - to get you where you want to go?
Richard E H Phelps II
Mingo
