Seatbelts Save Lives
Another important point about seatbelts is that with them, the driver doesn’t have to keep himself in the seat [“Click It or Die,” Apr. ’12]. Instead of using their hands and feet as braces, drivers can use them to steer and brake, accelerate and shift. These actions may prevent carnage to their vehicle and, more important, themselves. I know it has helped me both off-road and on.
Marty Dick
Via email
Right! The notion that a seatbelt doesn’t work is for idiots and dead people. Just ask them.
1-Inch What?
This is probably a stupid question, but while reading your magazines I often come across 1-inch squares with digital markings on them. Is it a security mark or a sponsor mark? I really like your magazine and will continue to read it, once I figure this out! Thanks for your time.
Randy Rodabaugh Sr.
Via email
What you are seeing is a QR code, which smart phones can scan to be taken directly to a web page, hopefully one of ours at www.4wheeloffroad.com. It’s the same principle as the bar codes that have been on products for years except instead of price info, QR codes take the place of typing a long web address on a tiny keyboard. It’s the hip new gizmo, and now that you know what they are you will notice them everywhere.
Reader Rant
It’s a Wave Thing
Guys, I’ve been a reader for years and love the mag. I’ve also seen a couple letters about “It’s a Jeep thing.” Being a Jeeper myself for years, I gotta ask: What happened to “the wave”? That’s where “It’s a Jeep thing” came from.
My wife bought her first Wrangler soon after we started dating. (Yeah, that’s how I roll.) I told her all about “the wave” being Jeep law, so to speak. Now she points out how she rarely gets a wave back. So I started noticing it myself. I’m not knocking them, but it seems the nonwavers are mostly JKs. I figure that’s due to the fact they come in an automatic and anyone can get one. Jeeps are known as straight shifts, thus putting us in a “club.”
I just want people to realize we wave because we’re that cool. So share in the coolness!
I don’t care if you’re on the phone, adjusting the radio, tuning in your CB, or checking your inclinometer. Wave! It’s one of the best parts of Jeepin’. We have this club of cool kids. Sure, you can call us the popular kids. I do. So all you Jeepers out there, whether you’re in a CJ, YJ, TJ, JK, or LMNOPJ, wave! That’s what Jeepin’ is about.
It’s a Jeep thing, period. You don’t see Fords waving. You don’t see Toyotas waving. It’s a Jeep thing. Let’s keep it up for the sake of future generations. My son will learn of this rule, as I hope my fellow Jeepers will teach their children. That’s what it really boils down to, folks. The kids. It’s all for the kids. I digress. So whenever you’re down in Georgia and you see a silver TJ cruising toward ya, expect a wave. Thanks for letting me vent for a minute, and keep up the great work!
Dave Asbridge
Lawrenceville, GA
P.S. If Ford or Toyota feelings were hurt in the reading of this rant, I apologize. You kids are cool too.
I’m still laughing about “automatic and anyone can get one”! Yes, it takes a while for people to learn what they never knew, and the more you wave the more it will be returned. My biggest problem is waving at Jeeps and then realizing I’m driving a rental Taurus or some such rot. Hopefully they just think I’m friendly.
Submission Information
4-Wheel & Off-Road welcomes letters to the editor. Letters must include an address or a telephone number so the sender can be verified. Once verified, your name may be withheld at your request. Letters published in this magazine reflect the opinions of the writers, and we reserve the right to edit letters for clarity, brevity, or other purposes. Due to the large volume of mail we receive, we regret that we cannot reply to unpublished letters or return photos. Digital photos must measure no less than 1600 x 1200 pixels (or two megapixels) and be saved as a TIFF, an EPS, or a maximum-quality JPEG file. Write to: Editor, 4-Wheel & Off-Road, 831 S. Douglas St., El Segundo, CA 90245; fax 310.531.9368 Email to: 4wheeloffroad@sorc.com