CARS, then.

After all, autumn's gatecrashing of the party that was the civilised winding-down of late summer renders most outdoor pursuits impractical, and the mind turns to interests that, one hopes, might keep it diverted from the grim reality of the coming five months. In my case, that means - in no particular order - records, guitars and cars. And whisky, come to think of it.

Regular readers will know I'm rather fond of my Saab. If this is your first brush with the tangled undergrowth of my mind, let me inform you that it's not any old Saab. It's a 9-3 Viggen. With bells on. Which means it goes like stink and wriggles like a worm with the DTs if pushed too hard. Equally gratifying as the power is the fact there are few driver aids, that ever-swelling category of electronic interventions that mean those with negligible skills behind the wheel can drive like buffoons yet stay on the road.

Made in 2001, my Viggen (Swedish for "thunderbolt") doesn't even have traction control, though frankly it should. It does have anti-lock braking, however, and given the woeful standard of driving I encounter daily, this is a welcome addition.

In a game of Top Trumps the feature list of more modern cars than mine would rout the Viggen. But what the Viggen - and every other car manufactured since January 1, 1936 - does have is indicators. Remember them? If so, I'm impressed, since empirical research leads me to conclude few motorists have any awareness of them whatsoever. Are you blushing yet? That research also suggests the swisher the car, the less likely you are to see its orange lamps blink before the driver makes a turn.

Owners of shiny German cars seem especially blind to the stalks on their steering wheels which, when activated, communicate to others their intended direction of travel. It sounds clunky, but indicators are what we use to talk to each other when we're driving.

I'm only guessing, but perhaps Audis, BMWs and Mercs are so stuffed with toys the basics are drab by comparison. Features such as automatic wipers in case you forget how to get rid of the rain muddling your view, voice-activated Bluetooth phone systems for those who think they drive better when they're distracted, parking sensors whose very existence tells you you shouldn't be driving a car this bloody big.

The next time you find yourself at a roundabout or a T-junction, try flipping the indicator stalk. You might coax others into doing the same. It's good to talk.