For Find Out Friday - Why Do We Spell “Driving” With the Letter “L”?

Ok, I am not crazy. I know the word “driving” is not spelled with the letter “L”. However, you cannot start the engine of any car without noticing it.

For those who are not sure where I am going with this, I want to know what the “L” stands for on the gearshift of automobiles.

The other day while in the car, my purse fell off the armrest and actually shifted the gear from “D” to “N”. Yes, my purse is that heavy.

When I looked straight ahead past my steering wheel I realized that although I took driver’s ed and passed my both my permit and driving tests on the first tries, I did not know what that “L” all the way to the left stood for.

Sure for a moment I thought maybe it just stood for left. But I suspected I that was not the case.

Turns out it actually stands for “Low”, like when you need to drive in low gear.

That didn’t help me.

When are you supposed to drive in low gear?

Since I am now thirty-seven years old and have been driving for roughly twenty years,

PAUSE

for the horror that I experienced when I did that math,

I have never ever needed to shift into that particular gear. This had me worrying that perhaps I should have.

According to those in the know, low gear is ideal when driving down or up a hill or when there is a lot of snow/ice on the ground. In these instances low gear may come in handy as it gives you more control.

On the rare occasion I am driving down hill I just take my foot off the gas and ride the brake. Same thing when it is icy out. Turns out that can burn out your brakes if you are doing it over an extended period of time.

But with cars, such as mine, that have an automatic transmission, we never really have to worry. Once the car is in “drive”, the car knows how to accelerate or not depending on the landscape. This explains why I never use low gear in all the time I have been driving. For me it serves no real purpose.

Now that I know what it stands for I am tempted to drive in low gear simply to see what it is like.

For the record, I have never driven in neutral gear either, so anyone getting in my car within the next week is really in for an adventure.

For More Information:

https://www.autostopltd.com/blog/what-does-the-l-on-the-gear-shift-stand-for/

https://driversprep.com/going-down-steep-hills/

Comments

For Find Out Friday - Why Do Emery Boards Make My Skin Crawl?

You know that sound a fingernail makes when it scratches against a chalkboard? You know that feeling the sound of that action gives you? I, like most people, hate that sound. I instantly feel like scrunching my shoulders up to my neck and closing my eyes. I feel the exact same way when I am using an emery board to file my nails. This annoying sensation has a name: “grima” which is Spanish for disgust or uneasiness. This term basically describes any feeling of being displeased, annoyed, or dissatisfied someone or something. It is a feeling that psychologists are starting to pay more attention to as it relates to our other emotions. Emery boards are traditionally made with cardboard that has small grains of sand adhered to them. It is the sandpaper that I believe makes me filled with grima. According to studies that are being done around the world, it is not just the feeling that we associate with certain things like nails on a chalkb...

For Find Out Friday - Why is One Foot More Ticklish Than the Other?

As I sit here typing I can’t seem to stop thinking about my nails. Mainly that they REALLY need to get done. They are starting to chip and become unruly. As soon I as think about making an appointment my mind immediately returns to this question: “which of my feet will be ticklish this time?” Because I am a girl that needs her fingernails and toenails to match, I always get a pedicure whenever I get my nails done. And while this should be an activity I enjoy, it often feels like a chore, despite my going only once every three to four weeks. I know; #firstworldproblems. Anyway, each and every time I get my toes done, as soon as they are done soaking in the bubbly water I wonder, which of my feet will be ticklish today? Without fail one of them always seems to get the brunt of it and suddenly what was supposed to be a relaxing activity has made me all tense. So, is there a scientific reason for this? According to most research, yes. While the ...

For a New Chain of Mexican Fast Food: “Dos Toros Taqueria”

When it comes to fast food there are the names we are familiar with: McDonald’s, Burger King, Wendy’s, and Chipotle. In you live in New York City, there is a new kid in town: Dos Toros. Dos Toros is relatively new to this area but with any hope there might be one in your town soon. Started by two brothers, Leo and Oliver Kremer, from Berkeley, California, the Mexican food you find here is inspired by food they loved growing up. In California, the brothers grew up worshipping Gordo Taqueria, a favorite of Bay Area residents since 1977 (now promptly added to my San Francisco to eat list). Much of the recipes and even decor found at Dos Toros has been modeled on Gordo. Before moving to NYC in 2008, the brothers were living very different lives. Leo was the bassist for the band “Third Eye Blind”. Oliver fresh out of college, considered working in the technology or finance industry. Both disillusioned with their lives, they decided to pursue so...

Search This Blog