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Letter to the editor

A sleigh full of gift ideas

Dr. Delay Navigating South Pinellas

By LORRIE LYKINS, Times Correspondent
Published December 23, 2007

For the road warrior in your life, here are some suggestions for motorist-friendly gifts that would be welcome any time of year.

Help in a bottle: This gift offers the essentials to handle an emergency. A 32-ounce water bottle holds a forever flashlight no batteries required, utility knife, screwdriver, digital tire gauge (batteries included), safety flasher and reflective vest. Everything is tucked into the nearly indestructible polycarbonate bottle. From L.L. Bean, $29.50

Personalized Mickey Mouse floor mats: Rest your tootsies on vintage Mickey car mats that can be personalized with up to 13 characters. The vinyl mats are made in the United States; a set of two costs $49.95, from www.Disneyshopping.go.com.

A trailer hitch hiding place: The HitchSafe key vault is a hidden drawer that fits inside a trailer hitch to hide your spare keys, credit cards or cash. The solid metal drawer is opened with a combination lock and installs easily. Find it at www.ajprindle.com, about $69.95.

Monogrammed car seat for Fido: This doggie car seat from Brookstone safely secures man's best friend, preventing (according to the retailer) motion sickness. The lamb's wool-lined "My Buddy" seat fastens to most standard rear seats with a belt, and a pet harness fastens to the seat belt. It has a covered tray for treats, leashes and water. The seat comes in large and small. About $100 to $150. Available at www.brookstone.com

Portable GPS: You don't have to buy a new car to get GPS navigational guidance. Portable GPS systems, though not cheap, are a great gift for the directionally challenged and can be used in any vehicle. Just pop the device onto the dashboard and you're set to go. Prices on most portable GPS units start at about $250 but will likely start to fall soon. And some of the simpler models are even cheaper, so do some comparison shopping. Check out BestBuy and Circuit City.

Books on CD: Many commuters are devotees of books on CD and if the person you're buying for spends a lot of time in the car or on public transportation, listening to the spoken word might be a soothing alternative to music.

Satellite radio: This is a treat for any driver, be they a long-range commuter or soccer mom. Satellite radio is a subscription service that beams clear radio signals from satellites and offers a dizzying myriad of listening choices. Two providers dominate the market, XM and Sirius, and monthly subscription fees can range from as low as $7 to about $25 per month. Both offer at least 100 channels (most are commercial-free), ranging from sports to music to local weather and traffic information. The equipment starts at about $50 and it's a good gift idea for the music/sports/gadget lover in your life.

Auto club memberships: Nothing says you care like free towing service. There are a multitude of auto clubs and service packages available, so shop around for the one-year membership that best meets the needs of your favorite driver and your budget. Check out AAA online at www.aaasouth.com. Your credit union might also offer auto clubs and discounts as do many retailers.

Portable jump-starters: Dead battery? No more wandering around a parking lot trolling for a Good Samaritan with jumper cables. Black & Decker's 10-pound portable jump starter plugs into the cigarette lighter of your dash and delivers a jolt to a dead car battery. The cost of the Black & Decker Electromate 250 AC/DC Power Supply and Jump Starter is around $79.95.

* * *

If you're on the road in downtown St. Petersburg on Christmas morning, be alert for a special bike ride set to start at North Shore Pool. Cyclists will gather, then break into groups depending on their speed, taking off at 8:30 a.m. and returning around 10 a.m.

Until next week, happy and safe motoring!

E-mail the Doc at docdelay@yahoo.com to share your traffic concerns, comments and questions with Dr. Delay.

[Last modified December 22, 2007, 20:32:34]