Fully brief your partner on a new car’s technology

I changed my car a few months ago. It’s spanking new and as with past updates to my preferred method of transport it left me shaking my head at the technology you now get as standard.

Automatic climate control (on my first car, a Mk 1 Ford Cortina, that meant opening and closing the windows); tyre pressure warning lights (Cortina warning if a tyre was low on pressure was being unable to steer in a straight line) and rear parking sensors (you knew you’d gone too far in the Cortina when you heard the thump of an immovable object).

It was that last technological improvement that almost proved embarrassing last month.

Unfortunate juxtaposition in a newsletter we received.

SWMBO and I were in Devon for a friend’s landmark birthday celebrations. We rented a small cottage for the weekend and the parking space outside was at a jaunty angle against a wall and just Focus-length.

SWMBO, who is a wonderful, careful, considerate and safe driver (she told me) was in the driver’s seat on the day after the party when we returned to said cottage from lunch.

As she drove, carefully, up the slight slope into the space, with yours truly acting as Parking Superintendent, she edged ever closer to the wall.

I ended up having to shout quite loudly as the car almost touched the wall and only a sharp bang on the passenger window brought the car to a halt.

“That was close” I muttered as SWMBO exited the car. “You very nearly hit the wall despite my Olympic-medal winning gesturing.”

“Oh,” my dearest replied, “I thought there were parking sensors on the front.”

And the lesson is – fully brief your partner on a new car’s technology before he/ she drives it for the first time.