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Use Better Driving Habits

Letters To The Editor

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By Letters To The Editor

Published: July 24, 2008

OK, OK, I know you haven’t finished reading “Driving for Dummies” yet, but here are some suggestions that will help us all get along on the road.

As a basic rule, the left-hand lane (if it’s a four lane) is for passing. The right-hand lane is for all you pokey drivers. Please learn this well (especially Virginians).

Remember the No. 1 cause of accidents is speed. If you are in a hurry, leave earlier!

If you don’t leave earlier, don’t tailgate the driver in front of you. If it’s me, I will slow down.

Try real hard to dim your lights at night when approaching another vehicle. That way, they might be able to stay on the road, and you can both get home all right.

The yellow line in the middle of the road is there for a reason – keep your car on your side of it!

If conditions are poor (rain, fog, darkness) please turn your lights on, not so you can see, but so you can be seen.

That thing growing out of your steering column, is called a signal. Use it! But, it’s not for you – it’s for others. If you just turn it on when you are turning, because you don’t know you’re turning, please stop driving a car. You’re too dumb to be on the road.

Finally, and most irritatingly, make your cell-phone call before you leave home, and please, oh, please, don’t try to put your makeup on while you’re driving to work!

George F. McAtee
Blountville, Tenn.

Reader Reactions

Posted by ( beeman ) on July 24, 2008 at 2:31 pm

Thanks, George, for the good laugh. Sadly all your points are true, and the people who need the advice won’t see it in themselves because they are already nearly perfect drivers.

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Posted by ( Alea ) on July 24, 2008 at 1:05 pm

This letter made me laugh, especially when I read the part about putting on makeup while you’re driving. I’m the idiot you’re all honking at when the light turns green and I’m still applying eyeliner. Next time I’m running late for work, I’ll wait and apply it in the restroom there just for you Mr. McAtee

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Posted by ( nuff said ) on July 24, 2008 at 12:49 pm

And turn off your signal light if it doesn’t turn off automatically after using it. And if you are in an area you are not familiar with hunting for a road don’t come to a dead stop in the middle of the road when you find it, you can turn around and come back to it. And don’t get mad at people if they can’t get over to allow you to merge, sometimes there is no place to move over to and allow others to merge. And if someone is in a hurry behind you, don’t slow down in anger, that will cause an accident, why would you want to do that? If others would only stop to think that we are all human beings, all in the same boat, and love each other, not take things so personally, and drive with kindness and consideration there would be no road rage. And remember when you come upon an elderly driver to show some compassion and allow them to drive cautiously, some of them have no one to pick up their prescriptions or groceries and must drive, they just drive a bit slower than the rest of us.

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Posted by ( Tim ) on July 24, 2008 at 8:57 am

I would like to add one more.

When passing a cyclist how about giving us a little room and not passing in a blind curve or on a blind hill.

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