Minneapolis apparently is having trouble with some of the kids riding the city?s buses. There have been fights and what is described as general “rowdiness.” To counter that, the city transit agency has launched an advertising campaign that it hopes will help calm things down. The campaign?s theme is aimed at getting young riders to “respect yourself” and show respect for fellow bus riders. One only hopes that the agency got the rights to use the Staple Singers song of the same name.
The city has created ads that will run on local television and radio stations. These use professional actors as well as local students to make the point.
On the one hand, it seems like a good idea to take a proactive approach to a growing problem. On the other, it?s a shame the city has to run ads showing young people how to be polite.
PULL TO THE RIGHT AND STOP
Scott writes in response to the letter about ambulance drivers getting behind stopped traffic at red lights: “I was a paramedic for about 20 years. I drove the medic unit some of the time. The issue in your column should be obvious to anyone with a Maryland driver?s license. What are all drivers required to do when an emergency vehicle approaches from behind? The answer is: ?pull to the right and stop.?
“So it?s not only that emergency drivers are ?taught? to pass all traffic on the left, we know that if we pass on the right we can be liable for what follows. If a medic unit in your reader?s scenario had passed to the right of her car, and upon hearing the siren had she followed the law and pulled to the right at the same time, the accident which would followwould be the fault of the medic unit driver.
“So perhaps Karan should dust off her driver?s license textbooks and learn that emergency vehicles will (or should) always properly pass to the left of her when she follows the laws and pulls to the right and stops. Does this make sense to you now?”
It does make sense, Scott, and thanks for writing. Thanks as well for all of the rescue personnel out there who put their lives on the line every day to make things safer for all of us.
HARBOR TUNNEL CLOSINGS
Here?s a heads-up if you use the Harbor Tunnel: The southbound tube will be closed for maintenance from 7:30 p.m. to 5 a.m. today through Wednesday. Two-way traffic will operate in the northbound tube.
The northbound tube will be closed 7:30 p.m. to 5 a.m. Thursday.
There also are some lane closures scheduled on the southbound Interstate 95 approaches to the Fort McHenry Tunnel in the overnight hours, but these should only create small delays.
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