Letters to the Editors

Drivers need to pay more attention

Re: Roundabout not the problem: It's the drivers, letter, May 20.

Letter writer Heiner Egloff doesn't seem to understand that American drivers can't use their turn signals (despite it being required by the Highway Code) because that's the hand they use to hold their cell phones, and hands-free kits are too expensive and a hassle.

Additionally, most cars in the United States are automatic transmission, so drivers here don't have to bother with changing gears, which frees up the other hand for the Big Gulp/cigarette/laptop/CD-changer/notepad/whatever.

I too have driven the Autobahn, but it requires actual attention to one's driving and discipline, which could be why, though millions are spent on roads here, it's wasted because people like to congregate in the left lane of interstates or other three-lane roads on cruise-control so they don't have to pay so much attention. (And it's said Americans drive on the right!)

Which brings us back to roundabouts and traffic lights. One has to pay more attention driving a roundabout despite it being a better traffic device because at a stop light all one has to do is daydream till it goes green or run the red till one gets caught or causes an accident.

Yes, I'm being sarcastic. But you've probably seen it too. One sad fact is that we all pay higher insurance rates for accidents caused by the stupidity and lack of attention of a few. That's something I personally object to.
-- Clive Dowdell, Clearwater

Roundabout just another bad idea from Europe

Re: Roundabout not the problem; It's the drivers, letter, May 20.

With regards to Heiner Egloff's letter advising that there are roundabouts all over Europe, I would like to point out that Clearwater is not a European city. Nor are the residents European. Hence the unfamiliarity of drivers with the roundabout.

Quite frankly, they make no sense to me. Being a North American, I am used to intersections that are controlled by traffic signals, which seems far more sensible. Everyone knows that if they wait their turn they will have a safe chance to proceed as opposed to having an all-out scrum and everyone just takes their best shot at getting where they want to go.

The traffic circle is a stupid idea and I see no advantage over having the intersection controlled by lights.

Some silly engineer apparently traveled to Europe and thought it was cute and decided to employ it in Clearwater.

Europe is full of silly ideas that are best left there. North America is the improved version of Europe.

We kept some of the sensible European ideas and discarded the silly ones, such as the roundabout.
-- Paul Spencer, Largo and Ontario

Need for school grade may affect punishment

Recently our son was the victim of battery by another student at his middle school. Instead of retaliating, he followed procedure as dictated by the School Board and immediately informed the guidance counselor on duty. We were advised by the principal that the student who battered our son would be suspended in school for one day.

According to the Pinellas County School Board Code of Student Conduct, "Violent acts include but are not limited to acts whereby force is used to cause injury or damage. A student who has been found to be an aggressor in a physical attack, with or without a weapon, that results in a serious injury or an act of unprovoked violence regardless of the severity of the injury to the victim will be suspended from school (for 10 days) and shall be recommended for expulsion."

When this was brought to the principal's attention, she advised us it was up to her to decide on the appropriate punishment.

Maybe this particular incident wasn't all this principal had on her mind.

Did you know that in order for a school to achieve an A grade, according to the state guidelines, the out-of-school suspension rate must fall below the state standard of 13.4 percent?

It really makes one wonder if this principal was more concerned about her suspension rate and jeopardizing the all-important factor of getting that A grade again.

How many other school principals have that same thought in the back of their minds when deciding on the appropriate form of discipline?

There is an obvious need for our governor to re-evaluate these guidelines.

The appropriate punishment should be enforced while not jeopardizing that A grade. The school suspension rate should have no bearing on the school's grade.
-- Scott and Marianne Wilson, Clearwater

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