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Letter to the editor

Todays Letters: New crosswalk lacks vital light for safety

Motorists need to heed pedestrians in crosswalks editorial, Dec. 23

Instead of becoming safer, in my opinion Clearwater-Largo Road is becoming more treacherous as a main thoroughfare. Not only do the palm trees in the median pose a danger, but now there is this sort of impromptu crosswalk, from out of nowhere, which is suddenly in our faces.

Maybe I'm old-fashioned, but my idea of a crosswalk is that it also has a light to cross by. Personally, I wouldn't venture across the new crosswalks. It's like taking your life in your hands. And pity the poor pedestrian and motorist on a foggy or rainy day, as well as at night, especially if the pedestrian is wearing dark-colored clothing. In short, the new crosswalk is nothing but a nuisance to motorists.

Not only are these crosswalks hazardous, but they're also a waste of taxpayers' money. My suggestion is to cross at a light, or don't cross at all.

JoAnn Lee Frank, Clearwater

Outrageous loss editorial, Dec. 26

Driving 'right' has do's and don'ts to follow

In Germany they have a "drive right" law. It doesn't mean drive on the right side of the road. It means pay attention to the road, the existing conditions and "drive right":

-No cell phones glued to your ear;

-No putting on makeup;

-No eating and drinking;

-No blaring radio or TV;

-No gabfest with your passenger(s);

-No reading the paper, a book or the office to-do list;

-No driving under the influence;

-No tailgating;

-No weaving through traffic;

-No driving on the shoulder;

-Adjust speed for existing conditions;

-Give way to pedestrians (universal 1st rule of the road);

-Yield to emergency vehicles.

It's no wonder that Germany's autobahns are the safest in the world, achieved without speed limits on much of them, with lower accident and death rates than in this country!

Pay attention, stupid! Pay attention to the road and your responsibility as the operator of a potentially lethal weapon - all of which is ignored by a large percentage of drivers in the United States of Automobiles, 70 percent of whom should never be issued a driving permit in the first place!

Mike MacDonald,Clearwater

Thanks for the lightsalong Kimpton Place

I hope you will publish this, as the people who live on Kimpton Place off Belcher Road in Largo deserve a special thank you. Their light display has made my son and me smile since Dec. 1. He just discovered Christmas lights, so we went every night but two to see them. He loved it.

Thank you, homeowners of Kimpton Place, for giving me a place to show my son some spectacular light shows before bed every night. It really made him see how great Christmastime can be. I also think it's fantastic that you support several charities and that's why you put on that show.

The neighbors have a Web site, Kimptonchristmas.com. I hope people will go to their Web site and honor them with a donation for their efforts.

Diane LaBeau, Clearwater

Your voice counts

You may submit a letter to the editor for possible publication through our Web site at www.tampabay.com/letters, or by faxing it to (727) 445-4119, or by mailing it to Letters, 710 Court St., Clearwater, FL 33756. You must include your name, address and phone number. Letters may be edited for clarity, taste and length.

[Last modified January 5, 2008, 22:35:04]