Make 2012 resolutions count

With Christmas comes the new year and if you're anything like me, you have all the best intentions and have made several big resolutions about bettering yourself and your life and maybe even bettering the lives of those around you.

But then you fall back into the daily routine and often forget those resolutions by Jan. 2. Or, you just have a darn hard time keeping them.

Well, since our vehicles are such integral parts of our lives, this year I am going to commit myself to several car-related resolutions that I plan to make a valiant effort to actually keep. If you have space for more resolutions of your own this coming year, how about making a few of them automotive related?

Over the past few years I have done a good job of obeying the speed-limit laws, so thankfully I don't have many tickets. However, because my hometown of Los Angeles is so crowded by cars, we often have to settle for metered parking spots over parking lots and structures. That means instead of parking and paying when you leave, you have pay in advance at the meter, guessing when you'll return. Not very efficient for anyone (how about a pay-when-you-leave meter?), especially for me it seems.

In the past year I received plenty of tickets for expired meters and for having left my car in a space during street-cleaning times. That really adds up and is just a waste of hard-earned dollars. I think I pay enough to local government, so in 2012 I refuse to throw away any more money on parking tickets that can easily be avoided with a little more diligence. Oh, I'll pay them, but I vow not to get more.

My father and my friend Chip Foose, who you might know from TLC's "Overhaulin'" TV show, are two people who have commented that it is an absolute crime to drive around in a dirty car. I don't know about it being a crime, but I do know that it's not always convenient to take the car to the wash despite the fact that keeping our vehicles clean helps their value over the long haul. For 2012, I resolve to take more pride in my rides. It's not just about maintaining our vehicles, but a clean car, I believe, is a reflection of who we are. So, I plan to take the time to wash my car once a week and get it fully detailed no less than twice a year.

Many times in my life I have run out of gas, and this is not only unsafe (and downright dangerous if you're also blocking traffic), but it is not good for the engine. Fortunately it has been a while since I allowed this to happen. However, because stopping for gas is not my favorite activity and I often let the tank run low, there have been many close calls. I suggest to friends that they leave their tanks half full at all times to prevent these time-wasting and completely avoidable moments when we find ourselves in the middle of nowhere -- or the middle of traffic -- with next to no fuel.

So in 2012, that's all changing. My car will always have at least a half tank of gas, but not a full tank since the engine burns more gas pushing the extra weight around. For further motivation, my editors would like to see everyone who runs out of gas for no good reason in 2012 fined $100,000. They're kidding of course, but the point is that no one would ever run out of gas.

If you live in a large city, you are no doubt aware that traffic congestion stinks. Traffic overload just might be my only enemy. After many years living in LA, I have learned to navigate the back roads and get to my destinations more quickly. Well, this coming year another goal and resolution is to learn more short-cut routes and keep avoiding traffic at all costs. This will make for a happier attitude, less anxiety and more successful meetings and workdays. And less time on the road means less fuel burned and less pollution.

I really take pride in being skilled behind the wheel. That chauvinistic generalization about women drivers does not apply to me: The good-driving gene runs in our family. It's tough for me to be a passenger, especially when riding with drivers who do frustrating things like puttering along in the slow lane, tailgating and whipping in and out of traffic without signaling. Although I think that my backseat driving is warranted, I am going to make a strong effort this year to either take the wheel myself or stop the griping.

Other resolutions on the list involve riding my bicycle more often, guarding pedestrians at intersections instead of impatiently waiting to get around them, and checking my tire pressure once a month.

Lastly, I promise, with great certainty, to crank the tunes, roll down the windows and take the top down more often. Who cares about preserving a hairdo? Enjoying our rides and loving the time we spend on the road is a part of what life, my life at least, is about.

Among her numerous accomplishments, Courtney Hansen is the author of her own book, the host of Spike TV's "Power Block," the former host of TLC's "Overhaulin'" and a writer with Wheelbase Media. You can email her by logging on to www.shiftweekly.com and using the contact form.