In response to a couple of articles to the Times-Union editorials, I would like to make a few comments.
I definitely agree that anyone driving a motor vehicle should give respect and space to those on bicycles. I would like to remind the bicyclist though that it is a two-way street. Bicyclists are suppose to give respect to the motorist also, and obey the same laws as the motorist.
When leaving my home, I have several four-way intersection stops I have to go through. It has been my observation that most adult bicyclists go through these stops without stopping. Recently, I was stopped at a stop sign, and I caught a view of a bicyclist in my rearview mirror coming up behind me. The bicyclist went around me and through the stop sign without stopping. There seems to be a mentality among people that stop signs don't always mean stop but you cruise through. This creates a problem when a motorist has a right to turn but has to stop or hit the bicyclist that has cruised through the intersection. People need to obey the rules of the road if they want respect.
The other item that has disturbed me is the use of cell phones while driving. It is very dangerous and confusing when at a four-way stop a person, whose turn it is to proceed, waves another person through because they are evidently involved in a phone conversation. Combine a bicyclist who is cruising through a four-way stop and a motorist whose attention is focused on a phone conversation, and that becomes a bad situation. Another item, when someone waves you to go through a four-way stop ahead of them, who goes next? Does the person who waved you through, or do you follow the guidelines in your driver's manual? To me this causes confusion. I have had other motorists start the same time as myself so now we're waving at each other. Is there any instructions or directions on this?
Yesterday, five young girls were killed. The report is that the driver was engaged in a cell phone activity. How many cell phone-related deaths on the road will it take before Indiana will pass a law against hand-held cell phones in the vehicle? Some other states are concerned enough that they are taking action and passing this law.
One of my grandsons has heard me talk about the danger of driving and talking on a cell phone. We were driving on a county road, and we were behind a car that was going 50 miles per hour. The driver ahead picked up the cell phone and within the next eight miles the speed was very spasmodic. The driver was driving over the road edge several times, weaving constantly over the center line of the road and making it unsafe to pass. The eight-mile ride said more to my grandchild than I ever could. Maybe it will say something to you also.
