Is road courtesy a thing of the past? Are our young people learning bad habits from us older drivers?

In the fall, when it is dark and I leave for my work commute to Bend from my home in Powell Butte, I grumble about the same things. I have driven this route for 17 of my working years, so that is a lot of grumbling

Headlights are very intrusive now. You have these blue lights that are piercing, and then there are the SUVs and pickups with four headlights and sometimes six when they have their amber running lights on. Even the smaller cars have four headlights now. Why do we need all these headlights? Are people really that blind, or is it a statement, “Here I come, and you better get out of my way!”

Sure, all of us have neglected to dim our lights on occasion, but in the mornings going to Bend at 6 a.m., I think every other person is still numb from sleep. It is like being smacked in the face at every turn of the road. Dimmer switches are so easy to use now. Why are they not being used? And if you don’t like to flick them on and off since you have so many lights on the car already, why not just leave them on dim when you leave home?

Then we have school starting. The young people are back on the road. Watch out. They are going to pass anything that is in front of them. The speed limit is 55. I drive between 55 and 60 to be safe. A policeman actually followed me into my driveway one day and warned me I was driving too slow and holding up traffic, and that I did not have my headlights on (it was not sundown yet). I wondered where he was when the others were driving too fast and endangering my life. I have people passing me going 65 to 75 because after they pass me I will not see them again. They will pass on corners, double lines and hills. It is like they are invincible and don’t care whether they die or kill. Parents, I recommend you follow your kids to school on occasions when they do not know you are following them. It will scare the stuffing right out of you.

There are also the pickups and SUVs that get right behind and follow too close, and their headlights are flashing from the rearview mirror to the side mirrors back and forth. They want to push you rather than pass you.

Can’t we all take a breath, turn off lights that are not needed, slow down to the speed limit and pass only when it is safe? Remember, the life you save may be your own or your child’s, or a neighbor’s. Leave early enough to get to work or school without pushing and shoving and acting like brats. A little road courtesy would be a welcome relief. Try to remember there is a real person in the cars you meet and pass on the road.

Marie Christoffersen

Powell Butte