For the first time in 26 years, I find myself without a car. As much as I encourage everyone to use automobiles less, I hadn't exactly planned on not having one at all. Fate interceded last week when my husband swerved to avoid a deer on the Highway 86, went airborne, rolled a couple of times and finally came to a rest down a steep embankment.

Remarkably, astonishingly, miraculously he (and the deer) walked away from the battered mess that once was his car. Since his job demands travel, and mine is home-based, he gets custody of our remaining vehicle, and I get to practice what I preach.

I suppose I'll get another car ... eventually. For the moment however, I'll enjoy the reprieve of responsibility and expense inherent with automobiles. We are so accustomed to our cars that we too often overlook both. For instance, your chances of dying in a car crash are a very fathomable one in a hundred. Car wrecks are the leading cause of death for any American between the ages of 1 and 44. Anytime you are behind the wheel there exists the possibility of hitting another car, a cyclist, a pedestrian or an innocent animal that has the temerity to try to cross a road within its displaced environment. There is also the possibility that another motorist under the influence of alcohol, drugs or lack of sleep might hit YOU.

We all shoulder a part of the responsibility for the air and water pollution and the ozone devastation generated by our gluttonous driving habits. Car payments, insurance, licensing, maintenance, ever-rising fuel prices, parking fees and potential tickets demand a disproportionate share of any household budget. Any precious time spent idling in lines, traffic jams and at lights is too much.

Still, this is a rural county and my auto habits are long-ingrained. It will be interesting to see if and when the call of "convenience" overtakes my relief of the automobile burden.

Fortunately, I live in a walkable village and I'm already fond of traditional forms of transportation. Groceries, banking, shopping, socializing and most errands are within blocks, not miles. I expect to get familiar with the bus schedule, make use of delivery systems, get a few put-off projects done and enjoy the prospect of increased longevity through more activity and decreased automobile exposure.

Brenda Berstler is the founder of the Walking Example Group (WE-GO) a non-profit organization encouraging walking and walkable communities. Visit their website at www.we-go.org.