I am going to begin this issue with a quote. “As you grow older and wiser (?), and enter different landscapes in your journey through life, you evolve. It is the dynamics of life.” Dale Lilly is the Lifestyles Editor from Hernando County, Mississippi. Ms. Lilly is spot on.
This edition of Coffee House Ramblings will look at my favorite topics — driving, education and people. With the 2018-19 school year approaching soon, I would like to describe schools, driving and a mixture of older drivers versus younger drivers.
I love to drive. Like many of you, I drive daily. I would like to approach the topic from the driver’s education teacher’s perspective. So let’s look at driving from the front seat of the driver’s education car. Allow me to bring you into the “instructor’s” seat.
As we look at schools, driving and a mixture of older drivers becoming acclimated with new drivers and vice versa. As a driving instructor, I am constantly fielding questions. Older drivers want to know what we are teaching the young drivers. Younger drivers are eager to learn proper technique. In answer to the first group, we teach students proper driving techniques. On the first lesson we teach the fundamentals. Such as hand placement, checking mirrors, seat adjustment, dashboard instrumentation, proper gear selection and what is under the hood.
We always start out in a parking lot. I tell my students that driving a car should be enjoyable, but safe. I do stress that the most important part of driving is common sense. What I mean by this is that if one sees a stop sign, you stop. How simplistic is that? If the speed limit says 20 miles an hour, then you drive 20 miles an hour. This is common sense. Space does not permit me to go through every aspect of our course. One of the most interesting parts of my job is the mixture of older drivers becoming acclimated with the new drivers.
From my seat it is very interesting. Rick Morris, from New Palestine is also spot on. Mr. Morris shared a succinct view published recently in Daily Reporter. The majority of the students are by nature intimidated by the roadways. Remember that prior to their driving experience they have been passengers. Now, suddenly, they are in command of a 2-ton automobile. It can be intimidating on their part. Older drivers need to realize that these are beginners. That is why the cars we drive are clearly marked “student driver.”
I would like to challenge the reader to this simple test. Go to any intersection in the county. For example Mt. Comfort Road and U.S. 40. Take along a clipboard. Position yourself in a safe place then keep track of the number of violations that you see in 10 minutes. Also, note if those drivers are young or old. I think you will be surprised to find out that the majority of the “offenders” would probably be “seasoned” drivers. You could also do the same thing in the comfort of a “fast food “restaurant. Enjoy a cup of coffee. What you will see is the American love for their automobile. You will also see numerous ways of how not do drive.
Why is the task that we do daily so difficult? One reason is that traffic patterns change almost daily, hourly and seasonally. For example our local schools will be starting soon. Are you, as a driver, confused by school zones? I know that I can be. Unfortunately the State of Indiana does not have uniformity when it comes to school zones. Some school zones will have yellow flashing lights. Some will state the speed limit only when children are present. Do you know where the school zone ends? Thanks to Rep. Bob Cherry, our schools have implemented signs to designate where the zone ends. These signs are supposed to be placed on the right side of the road as the zone ends.
Now back to my view from my seat. It is incredible the violations that I see. This could range from folks not signaling lane changes, to being passed on the right side of our vehicle. My student driver was on Southeastern Avenue. We had just gone from a dual lane to a single lane. A car had been tailgating us for about a block. The car decided to pass us on the right side, which meant that in order to make the pass they used the bicycle lane to “cut” in front of us. During this time the occupants of the other car were jeering and giving us obscene gestures. This is only one of many examples.
So, as I close out this edition of Coffee House Rambling let me leave you with a few thoughts. As a driver, whether seasoned or a neophyte, common sense should be your first priority. Slow down in school zones. Be a defensive driver. Lastly, please use turn signals.
C.O. Montgomery of New Palestine is a former teacher, Sugar Creek Township trustee and co-director of the Hancock County Character Council. Send comments to dr-editorial@ greenfieldreporter.com.
