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One thing about writing this column week after week is that I can say things that I observe and if need be go back and see what I have written about later. Once it’s there it’s there and nothing is going to change it. Sometimes it can be a good thing and other times not.
So when I see something on the news that sounds familiar I can go back and see if what I’ve written was valid, on the mark, or even holds water. So far there have been very few leaks and few arrows off the bull’s eye. This is more times than not the case when I am discussing the little things that impact our day-to-day existence. I hope I am not jinxing myself, but the more it happens the more I am amazed that someone as dumb as me can get so many things right. I can only assume it’s from spending more time listening than talking.
The reason I bring this up now is that in the last few weeks a couple of things that I’ve written about numerous times surfaced on the news. I know it’s one of your favorite topics, based on what many of you have told me, and you know it’s one of mine, driving ability and the lack thereof.
First, there was one of those “Special Assignment” reports on KCBS Channel 2. You know the kind usually reserved for dirty restaurants and crooked auto repair shops, except this time they were focusing on traffic schools. As usual they send in a fake customer who is really one of the shows producers. Usually it’s a woman carrying a purse that conceals a camera, inquiring about enrolling in and fulfilling a court ordered traffic school mandate.
Traffic school, as most of us know, is an 8-hour refresher course designed to get traffic violators back up to speed on the traffic laws. In exchange, the violator has their violation removed from their driving record. It’s actually a good deal for the driver and should be good for the driving public as well if the course is completed.
But what David Goldstein’s “Special Assignment” report uncovered was that there are local traffic schools that sell the certificates of completion to bad drivers instead of taking the course. As was shown on the undercover videotape, if they were willing to pay between $80.00 and $100.00, these schools would sell these bad drivers the certificate. Going to a real traffic school would cost about $30.00.
As a result of this investigation, the DMV has raided at least 3 of these traffic schools. Further they have said that they will be “watching” all of them much closer in the future. Well that’s all fine and dandy, but who’s going to be watching them? The DMV are the ones who keep putting these sub-standard drivers on the streets to begin with. Somehow I think if they were keeping a closer eye on their own testing facilities we all would be a lot less frustrated when behind the wheel.
Then just this last weekend, while the nation was coming off the most deadly Memorial Day weekend in years, a report was put out by AAA, Partners for Highway Safety, and Volvo Cars. This report, based on a survey conducted earlier this month, came to the epiphany that most American drivers engage in risky driving.
Well hell, if they had just been reading my column for the last 4 years they could have could have found out the same thing without calling over a thousand people at dinner time to ask them questions.
The statistics they came up with were that 73% of drivers speed, 59% ate while driving, 37% used a cell phone, 28% didn’t wear a seat belt, 26% didn’t use their turn indicators, and 14% admitted to reading while driving. Overall 91% acknowledged doing at least one risky act while driving. None of the reports on the survey, whether they be in print or broadcast, said if the survey was done nationwide or if it was done regionally.
If it had been done here locally the percentage of speeders would definitely be down, since the majority of drivers around here can’t seem to find the accelerator pedal. As we all know, in the West San Gabriel Valley, whatever the posted speed limit is there is always a group of people who will be going 20 miles an hour under it.
Around here, I would guess that there is a higher percentage of cell phone usage than reported in the survey. The number of people with cell phones glued to their heads is astounding. Nine times out of ten they are the ones leading the pack of slow drivers. Personally, I can hardly wait until California passes a law that prohibits the use of a hand held cell phone while driving, just like they recently did in New York.
The “solution” that was offered up after all this data was assessed was that drivers need to re-examine their driving behavior. Oh I’m sure your little survey is going to have all of these bad drivers quaking in their boots and going to confession looking for ways to repent for their poor driving habits.
I’ve got a good idea for a survey that would actually benefit this area. How about one on the impact of a group of non-tax revenue generating businesses on a small community? Or how about a “special assignment” that investigates what really goes on behind closed doors of a bridal shop that never has any customers?
The Shrub Speaks: Listen, we'll answer two questions a side, alternating. Please address -- so don't -- one of these things where you ask me and ask the Prime Minister, or vice versa. Let's just ask one question to one of us as we rotate back and forth, if you don't mind. –During a joint press conference with Japanese PM Koizumi, Crawford, Texas, May 23, 2003
B.D.-I think this one speaks for itself……
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