Re: Older drivers should avoid rush hour, letter, Jan. 14.
Once in a while, somebody complains about older drivers being on the roads and contributing to traffic problems. Another letter appeared on Jan. 14. I am an 84-year-old driver and I would like to respond.
When we get older, we don't exactly quit all of our activities. We have a group of seniors who play tennis at 7:30 a.m. so we are on the road briefly during morning rush hours. It's also possible that my wife and I would go out for lunch. A couple of times a week we might go out for dinner, so to take advantage of the early bird specials we could be on the road between 4:30 and 5:30 pm. If we are going on a trip, we would try to get through town early enough to avoid the rush hour. I'm sure other seniors also have activities that make it necessary for them to be on the roads during the busy times.
Both my wife and I have taken the "55 Alive" courses that are offered periodically and by taking the course we get a substantial reduction in our insurance premiums. We also have learned quite a bit about older people's changes in reaction time to emergencies. So we both drive keeping in mind what we have learned in these classes and trying not to cause problems for other drivers. We try to keep with the flow of traffic unless it is going 15 or 20 miles per hour over the speed limit. But when in the left or center lanes we drive at least the speed limit if practical. We do not amble along at 30 mph in a 45 mph speed zone. If we wish to go slower, we get in the right hand lane.
Other drivers of all ages that bother me are those that dart from one lane to another with or without signaling, and drivers who signal a turn one or two intersections before they actually turn. Drivers who tailgate me are also a menace that I can do without. They often get so close that I know they would hit me if I suddenly had to stop. Another group of drivers that bother me are those who amble along apparently having no idea as to what is going on around them or that there is anybody else on the road besides them.
So the next time you young drivers feel like complaining about older drivers, look around and you will see that bad driving is not confined to us. Many of you younger drivers won't be getting any medals from me.
-- Bob Cooper, Seminole
Off-hours for senior drivers unrealistic
Re: Older drivers should avoid rush hour, Jan. 14.
Okay, we older drivers will stay off the roads during these times: 7 to 9 a.m., noon to 1 p.m., and 4 to 6 p.m. But you must do some things for us:
1. Please contact all doctors, dentists, labs and hospitals and let them know that we cannot have appointments prior to or during these hours.
2. Please advise all restaurants that we cannot patronize their businesses during these hours.
3. Please notify all retail outlets, i.e. groceries, malls, gas stations, and such that we cannot patronize their businesses during these hours.
This list could go on and on. You get the idea.
If you work at any of the above types of businesses, maybe if the older drivers heed the letter writer's warning, you probably will not have a job to get to every morning!
Yes, the older drivers should stay in the slow lane, but the rest of the letter is ridiculous! We, too, should have a little respect! Maybe if one plans his time correctly, and leaves home earlier, these stressful incidents could be avoided.
-- Nancy S. Rodda, St. Petersburg
Time management will prevent road rage
I am sure that you have gotten a lot of response to the letter of last week of a person who said he was fed up with "senior drivers." He even went so far as to indicate that they waited at left-hand turns until all the traffic had passed to make a turn. He said this was a nuisance to someone trying to go somewhere in a hurry. It is also illegal to make unsafe turns, as well as ill-advised. Solution: Allow more time for your trip.
He indicated that seniors should be restricted to only driving at times that were not pertinent to him. Solution: Have tolerance and consideration for others.
He also indicated that if seniors stayed off the roads that it would solve a lot of road rage. Solution: Road rage is usually caused by the person enraged from within himself.
I am 17 years old and was taught how to drive by my 67-year-old grandfather. The only indicator of the future is the past, and he has never had an accident in 52 years of driving. He taught me to be tolerant of others, courteous to all, and above all, not to take unnecessary risks while driving.
The gentleman who wrote to you would be better served if he understood that we are all in this world together. The road no more belongs to him than the person who has paid 20 more years of taxes than he has. It is usually the person who is in the rear who has the road rage. Just leave a little earlier, and you won't have to worry about that person who would have been in front of you. Observing all traffic laws will do more to cut down on accidents than taking seniors off the highway.
-- Michael Harper, Dunedin
Lives don't revolve around one driver
I really enjoyed reading the letter from Ward Kalmbach. It is really funny. He is 47 years old and we older people should stay off the road so he can get to work a little quicker. I wonder if he has parents or if he will someday be a retired senior citizen.
Next time I have to go to the airport for a trip or to pick up someone coming to visit, I will have to remember I cannot go between 7 and 9 a.m., noon and 1 p.m. or 4 and 6 p.m. because Mr. Kalmbach might be on his way home and has to get there pretty quickly and we don't want any more congestion on the road than absolutely necessary, do we?
And when we want to go out to dinner, we will have to leave by 3:30. That will be a really early bird dinner.
And I wonder if he has children. If so, I am paying taxes for them to have good schooling and I do not have any children in the school system so I guess I should not pay those taxes next year, or the taxes for road improvements. Look at the money I will save!
-- Janet A. Chadwick, Tarpon Springs
Gas tax increase could ground retirees
Re: 6 cents gas tax.
We do hope that the Pinellas County commissioners realize that they are elected. Have they given thought to the current price of gas. It's $1.55 and going up. We are senior citizens on a fixed income. What do they want us to do, walk? People will remember at election time.
-- M.L. Kudelko, Largo
Sidewalk parkers should receive tickets
Re: Residents upset over sidewalk parking tickets., Jan. 11.
It would be nice if the St. Petersburg police followed the example of the Pinellas Park police force and issued tickets to owners of cars illegally parked on sidewalks. They wouldn't have to wait until late at night. All they would have to do is look on Denver Street and on Venetian Boulevard in Shore Acres in late afternoon and they'd collect enough fines to cover their salaries.
-- Jeanne Tipton, St. Petersburg
[Last modified January 18, 2004, 01:01:02]
