Slow Down

To the Editor:

This afternoon, roughly 3:45 pm, May 20, I was driving from the center of Sandy Hook out Glen Road to my home after running errands. As I approached the first blind curve one encounters, I found myself slamming on the brakes as a red SUV rounded the bend, fully two-thirds on my side of the road. The idiot swerved and tragedy was narrowly averted. I drove the approximately one mile to my home shaking. I have lived on Beechwood Drive for almost 24 years. I am well aware of the twists and turns of Glen Road and always stay to the right on that curve before the brick office building.

Since I moved here, I have seen drivers become less and less caring about their behavior behind the wheel. We all make mistakes in our hectic lives. But, drivers’ habits — the rudeness at intersections, when the left turn arrow goes away, pulling out onto public roads from private parking lots — has become insane. Just read the weekly police report in The Bee and count how items involve following too closely or failure to drive a reasonable distance apart. My husband blames it on video racing games where you crash and get a new car/life. No property damage, no human injury, no insurance increases.

In last week’s Bee, Christian Deschermeier laments the demise of “Nicer in Newtown.” I remember that media campaign. Back then, it truly was Nicer in Newtown. In the last 15 or so years, things have changed. I live on a secondary — actually tertiary or quaternary, if you will — road with a 20 mph speed limit. I don’t have a radar gun, but, newer neighbors, visitors, delivery vehicles, and even a mini-school bus, fly past my house at much more than 20 mph. My street is essentially a circle. The furthest point is less than a half mile from Glen Road. Why is it necessary to drive so fast? There are children, walkers, joggers, bicyclists, dog walkers on this road. Do these drivers just not care?

Please, please, slow down, stay in your lane, and learn the traffic rules. It ain’t rocket science people! Drive with more care. The life you save may be your own.

Laurie Borst

8 Beechwood Drive, Sandy Hook                                                                     May 23, 2011