The in basket: Val Tangen e-mailed after seeing an earlier Road Warrior about state troopers specifically looking for aggressive drivers, defined as ones committing three violations in quick succession, usually speeding, tailgating and not signaling a lane change.
Val wondered what to do about the opposite kind of driver, the excessively timid one.
“I was driving on Bond,” Val said. “The road was clear and dry and it was light out but quite cloudy. The driver in front of me had no lights on; drove 35 in the 50 zone and 20 in the 35 zone. She was constantly breaking, especially if another car came in the opposite direction.
The in basket: Val Tangen e-mailed after seeing an earlier Road
Warrior about state troopers specifically looking for aggressive
drivers, defined as ones committing three violations in quick
succession, usually speeding, tailgating and not signaling a lane
change.
Val wondered what to do about the opposite kind of driver, the excessively timid one.
“I was driving on Bond,” Val said. “The road was clear and dry and it was light out but quite cloudy. The driver in front of me had no lights on; drove 35 in the 50 zone and 20 in the 35 zone. She was constantly breaking, especially if another car came in the opposite direction.
“There was a line of 20-plus cars behind me, several of whom kept pulling out into the other lane to see if they could pass. I was so delighted when she turned at the light towards Poulsbo and Bainbridge as I was going up to (Highway) 3. I pitied anyone who was trying to make the Bainbridge ferry, as she may have driven them crazy long before they reached it.”
The out basket: Such a driver would be guilty of the infraction of delaying more than five cars.
State Trooper Brian George, who described how the public is increasingly reporting aggressive drivers to the patrol, said a person can use the same mechanism to report an excessively timid driver.
“This might me a time when the WSP Web site would be a good choice,” he said, “since we wouldn’t give it a high priority, unless there is a trooper in the area.”
Go on-line to wsp.wa.gov, he said, and click on “Report Aggressive Driving” on the left side of the page and fill in the form.
Like your column-will check this out every so often too-
This is the driver that drives me up a wall-staying in the passing lane and driving under the speed limit or right on the limit! Glad to know we can report them as well as an aggresive driver.
Keep up the good work..I really learn from your column!
The driver described in your Road Warrior column today was probably intoxicated. It isn’t just the slow speed; the lights being off in nighttime driver and the braking with oncoming traffic is a dead giveaway!
*Always* suspect intoxication on the part of any driver whose speed is less than 10 MPH below the speed limit under normal road conditions. A slow-driving drunk is an even greater danger to other traffic than an aggressive driver.
This is a 911 call. No ifs, ands, or buts about it.