A car is more than a means of transportation. It’s your link to independence, friends, social events and so much more.

But at some point, we all have to give up the keys. Knowing when may save you or a loved one from injury or even death. And there may be advantages to not driving that you haven’t considered.

An Increase in Accident

Although older drivers are less likely to drive while intoxicated and more likely to wear seat belts, they’re still at greater risk for an accident than most other age groups.

read more from "Safe Behind the Steering Wheel How’s your driving?"

Larry Dixon beat Full Throttle points leader Antron Brown to collect his fourth Top Fuel win in the past six years at the United Association NHRA SuperNationals at Old Bridge Township Raceway Park, just a half-hour away from downtown Manhattan.

read more from "Dixon Beats Brown in an All-Toyota Top-Fuel Final"

Employees remaining after a workplace “downsizing” face increased pressure that in some cases can be deadly. A study, according to the Medical Abstract Newsletter, reports that the Japanese now recognize a syndrome of “death from over work.” And Danish bus drivers working long hours in heavy traffic have a high death rate. Giving employees more control and more social support at work can help prevent stress-related illness.

When you drive defensively, you’re aware and ready for whatever happens. You are cautious, yet ready to take action and not put your fate in the hands of other drivers. According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, 90% of all crashes are attributed to driver error.

Following these defensive driving tips can help reduce your risk on the road:

1. Think safety first. Avoiding aggressive and inattentive driving tendencies yourself will put you in a stronger position to deal with other people’s bad driving. Leave plenty of space between you and the car in front. Always lock your doors and wear your seatbelt to protect you from being thrown from the car in a crash.
2. Be aware of your surroundings — pay attention. Check your mirrors frequently and scan conditions 20 to 30 seconds ahead of you. If a vehicle is showing signs of aggressive driving, slow down or pull over to avoid it. If the driver is driving so dangerously that you’re worried, try to get off the roadway by turning right or taking the next exit if it’s safe to do so. Also, keep an eye on pedestrians, bicyclists, and pets along the road.
3. Do not depend on other drivers. Be considerate of others but look out for yourself. Do not assume another driver is going to move out of the way or allow you to merge. Assume that drivers will run through red lights or stop signs and be prepared to react. Plan your movements anticipating the worst-case scenario.
4. Have an escape route. In all driving situations, the best way to avoid potential dangers is to position your vehicle where you have the best chance of seeing and being seen. Having an alternate path of travel is essential, so take the position of other vehicles into consideration when determining an alternate path of travel.
5. Follow the 3- to 4-second rule. Since the greatest chance of a collision is in front of you, using the 3- to 4-second rule will help you establish and maintain a safe following distance and provide adequate time for you to brake to a stop if necessary in normal traffic under good weather conditions.
6. Keep your speed down. Posted speed limits apply to ideal conditions. It’s your responsibility to ensure that your speed matches conditions.
7. Separate risks. When faced with multiple risks, it’s necessary to address them by separating risks. Your goal is to avoid having to deal with too many risk factors at the same time.
8. Cut out distractions. A distraction is any activity that diverts your attention from the task of driving. Driving deserves your full attention — so stay focused on the driving task.

In Addition to bad highways and drivers, road holidays have a hidden risk: Heart attack.

Researchers in the US found that road-trippers were  more likely to  suffer a heart attack that vacationers who took planes, trains or other modes of travel. Driving requires concentration, which raises blood pressure-and the risk of cardiac incident , says lead author Willem Kop. Here,  tips for a heart-healthy journey:

• Don’t rush. hurrying has been linked to increased heart attack risk, say psychologist Peter Wish. So leave early, plan stops and play games in the car to relieve stress.

• Take breaks. Too much setting raises the risk of deadly blood clots. Stop to stretch every hour or so.

• Drink up. Dehydration taxes the heart.

Present generation cars and vehicles are so well teamed up with advanced safety gadgets that accidents should not even be remote possibilities. Yet, we hear of road-accidents every now and then. In fact, fatalities of accidents far outnumber deaths due to other causes and in most cases, you will come to know that the accident could have been avoided had the one behind the wheel abided by safe driving tips. Remember, safe driving tips translate into safety and well being for you as well as others sharing the tarmac with you.

Speed, in all probability, is the most vital of all the safe driving tips. Reckless driving and exceeding speed limit will amount to committing suicide. Maintaining the legal speed limit promises you all the advantages and gives you a superior control while you drive a vehicle.

Wearing safety belts while driving is mandatory in many countries. These days, even passengers are required to use safety belts. Maintaining a safe distance between two vehicles is crucial to avoiding accidents.

Apart from these generic “drive safely” rules, there are some specific safe driving tips, which you need to adhere to in order to steer your vehicle in the right course. Accordingly, a safety tip for bad weather conditions will be to slow down. Driving becomes a big challenge when it rains and snows. The tires lose traction and your vehicle tends to skid. Going slow gives you the opportunity to take defensive action.

Similarly, slow down at intersections and watch-out for the light-signals. The other safety tip you need to abide by at intersections is to make a slow start even when the red light turns green. Always check both the sides - right and left - before driving through an intersection.

Overtaking a vehicle safely necessitates taking certain cautionary measures. You should carefully look into all the mirrors to watch-out for any approaching vehicle and then signal your move into the passing zone. Once in the passing zone, you need to accelerate to go past the other vehicle.

Routine checking of vehicle is essentially a maintenance tip, however, it plays an equally important role in safe driving.

The “last but not the least” tip will be in the same cautious tone - “Never attempt driving unless you are hundred percent attentive and fresh”. Even the whole lot of safe driving tips will pledge you no safety if you go about tugging you car even when you are fatigued, tired to the hilt or drive in an intoxicated state. Alcohol and many non-prescription, over-the-counter drugs are known to affect the brain and the central nervous system. This numbs your sensations - blurring your vision, impairing your decision making capability and allowing you lesser time to react - thereby, affecting your driving acumen and proficiency.

The BMW 6 series was relaunched in 2004 with the BMW 645i. This car was a two door, four passenger luxury sports car. This car is ideal for a sports car enthusiast who would prefer a larger, more practical car compared to the 650’s 2 passenger, lighter peers. In 2006, BMW upgraded the 645i to a 650i by increasing the engine a little. When including options and taxes, the 650i tends to run at about $80,000, so it’s not exactly cheap. Here are the pros and cons of the car:

Pros

Amazing handling: The car is amazing to drive. When you drive the car, you feel as if you have total control over the vehicle. A car such as the Mercedes CLS (also priced near $80k) just cannot match this car’s handling. The BMW 650i definitely has the handling one would expect from a German-made luxury sports car.

Gadgets: The BMW 650i comes with BMW’s Idrive, an all-encompassing  electronic system. The Idrive controls the navigation system, music, air conditioning, as well as communication system. The Idrive also has voice command, making it easy to use when driving. Some believe the Idrive is a bit difficult to operate. That’s hogwash. Within two weeks of owning the car, anyone competent enough to use a computer or a DVD should be able to operate the Idrive flawlessly. The Idrive is the gadget-lover’s ultimate car toy.

Interior: The interior of the 650i is beautiful. It has modern, classy feel to it. Your taller passengers will certainly appreciate being seated in the front though, as the back is not exactly spacious.

Acceleration: With a V8 and 360 hp, the car isn’t exactly going to be outrun by a Civic. The acceleration and amazing breaks can also help you get out of accidents that other cars wouldn’t be able to avoid.

Cons

Reliability: Expect to make stops at the service center every now and then. While it is a wonderful car, it is prone to electronic and tire issues.

Price: At about $80,000, it’s not exactly in the everyman’s budget. But if you are willing to spend this much money on a car, the 650i is definitely a good one to check out.