Aggressive driving is something that can have an impact on a lot of people. In fact, in one-third of all highway fatalities, aggressive driving can be cited as a contributing factor. Maryland State Police are gearing up for the next wave of the Smooth Operator program in an effort to get aggressive drivers off the roads and make things safer for the rest of us. I?m not sure how they come up with this number, but organizers of the program say that crashesinvolving aggressive driving cost society $76,865 a minute.
Smooth Operator has been around since 1997 and has focused a good deal of attention on this problem.
Pete has a somewhat different take on law enforcement. He writes: “I read with great interest your comment about bad driving. I agree that too many of us are guilty of all of the offenses you mentioned, and we need to improve or be more careful. However, have you noticed the number of law enforcement vehicles exhibiting the same habits? The Harford County Sheriff?s Office and the Aberdeen police are particularly guilty of said offenses, while quick to ticket non force members for the same offense. The local Harford County paper runs a police blotter, taking great pride in embarrassing anyone charged with a crime. Perhaps police vehicle ID numbers, time and location of dangerous or illegal driving should be similarly posted. It just might improve their driving.”
Perhaps it goes without saying that Pete lives in Aberdeen. I remember when I was a smart-mouthed teenager and was keeping pace with a police officer who was going several miles an hour above the speed limit. Suddenly he hit his brakes, got around behind me and pulled me over. “But officer, I was going the same speed you were,” I said. “Yeah, but I was on a call,” he responded. “No lights and siren?” To which his response was, “They asked for a silent response. “But you have time now to pull me over?” “The call was canceled.”
You?re never going to win a spitting contest with a police officer, though it would be nice to see a better example set. By the way, that officer never did give me a ticket for speeding that night.
Amtrak funding
It happened a couple of weeks ago but I must say that I was pleased to see Amtrak get some extra money to operate. Those of you who take MARC should also be cheering because that adds stability to your commute since MARC gets so much assistance from Amtrak. Listen, Amtrak has been mismanaged and underfunded for years and yet it seems to be something that this country needs now more than ever with gas prices so high.
Questions, comments, random musings? Write to [email protected].
