Published: February 10, 2008 01:08 am            

Letters to the editor - Sunday, Feb. 10, 2008

Conditions dictate use of headlights

Recent hazardous road conditions have prompted me to finally act on intentions held for some time now. Pastor Rick Warren in his best-selling book started out by saying it so well. He says, “It’s not about you.” That’s it! That’s how he starts the book. My concern, my issue, has to do with some of the driving habits among my fellow travelers in Kokomo. If it helps your self-image at all, this problem isn’t limited to Howard County, Indiana, either!

We are regularly reading of the added safety in driving with lights on all the time. As a driver of a school bus on a regular basis, I always run with lights on when I am carrying passengers. I drove for a charter bus service in Florida several years back, and our policy was always “lights on.” While it could be argued that it increased the maintenance cost for the vehicle, the fact that others can see us better, and thus decrease the likelihood of hitting us, outweighed the maintenance costs. That brings up one of the main thrusts of this letter. I hope to get the discussion started, and perhaps convince more of my fellow road-users to use lights more often. I don’t use them all the time in my own vehicle, but I weigh the conditions in which I am driving. Here are some of my personal guidelines: 1) Rain – even if it is only misting; 2) Extra-cloudy conditions; 3) Snow falling; 4) Two-lane highways, day or night, good or bad weather; 5) Darkening skies, since the definition of “dusk” is for many drivers elusive at best. States like Florida, for instance, mandate lights on when raining, as a citeable offense. Signs warn you as you enter the state, much like our pull-over or slow-down signs for emergency vehicles on the side of the road in Indiana. I am hearing of numerous states with similar headlights-on laws on the books.

Do it before the legislature finds it’s one more thing to codify into law and makes it happen (think seat-belt laws). Do it, not because you need to see, but because people need to see you. Canada already mandates running lights on vehicles – still an option in the USA.

Rick Glover Sr., Kokomo

Support businesses that support city

Dear Honda/Subaru driver:

After reading your letter, I agree that you have some valid points. It is becoming nearly impossible not to own some of the products you mentioned. The global economy is or isn’t to blame for this. However, the global market was supposed to bring other countries up to our level. It wasn’t supposed to strip Americans of their jobs and bring us down to their level.

I am very blessed that I have a good job at Chrysler. I don’t take it for granted one bit. I do believe that there may be some things you are misinformed about. I don’t get the free child care and months of vacation that you stated. However, I do have good health care and am grateful. I wish everyone could have that.

You state that you feel the Japanese produce superior products. I assure you that they have their faults too. Here are some ’07 recall numbers for you. Toyota Sequoia: 533,124, Nissan Ultima: 140,582, Hyundai Tucson: 128,300, Suzuki Forenza and Reno: 75,697, Nissan Vera: 16,309. So unfortunately, no automaker is without its flaws.

Now, as far as you driving a Honda, I don’t agree with it. I think you should support your community. GM, Chrysler and Haynes helped build this town. The workers at these factories play a major role in this community. It especially irks me when I see doctors, lawyers, firemen and teachers driving non-GM and -Chrysler vehicles. The workers from these factories pay the very taxes that either pay their salaries or help support their businesses. I don’t understand how a contractor can pull into my drive with a foreign car and expect me to support his business but won’t support his own community by purchasing a vehicle made by one of these factories. The local economy has a trickle-down effect. When people don’t have jobs, they can’t purchase from you or support your business.

I do get a discount on Chrysler vehicles. It’s one of my “freebies” if you recall. We are allowed to give friends a discount too. So, if you want to give Chrysler a try, I will be more than happy to give you my discount. As I am sure that any Chrysler employee would. I would like to thank all of the members of our great community that do support my job! I am very grateful. Thank you!

Bruce Pearce, Kokomo

        

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