For readers on the road, courtesy is imperative No. 1

What do you expect from a guy who rides in the pope mobile?

It’s easy to be charitable and speak of compassion on the road when other people drive you around and you don’t deal with the sometimes inconsiderate, careless and just plain idiotic people on the road.

When the Vatican released its 10 commandments for the road last week, it was apparent that some rewriting was in order. Getting There put the e-mail call out to some local drivers to find out what the Vatican missed.

The answers came back in a flurry and offered a more practical (and often hilarious) take on what it requires to be a good driver.

Most common in the lists were admonitions to put the phone down and focus on the road, or, as R. Craig Wilcox put it: “Thou shalt not drive while pretending you are so important that you must talk on your cell phone as you make a general nuisance of yourself on the road.”

Second most popular on reader lists was using signals (and being courteous enough to accommodate other drivers when they use their turn signals).

“I’ve ridden with people who are oblivious to the signals of others and leave the other party no choice but to cut them off or miss their exit after two miles of polite signaling,” wrote Brian Lehman. “Speed up, slow down, switch lanes but do something so the person signaling can make their move safely and politely.”

“A rolling stop gathers no grace,” wrote Don Harding, who also looked out for four-legged passengers with the commandment “Thou shall not pickup bed thy only canine.”

Kristy Bennett’s request was simple – no shaving while driving.

Sharon King’s suggestion came from her own harrowing experience with a driver and a hot fudge sundae. “Thou shalt not eat anything that requires utensils while driving,” she wrote.

“Thou shalt not drive five miles under the speed limit in the fast lane,” wrote Travis Musengo, a sentiment echoed by more than a few others.

Most focused on safety and courtesy toward other drivers, but Doris Butler wrote one commandment in defense of passengers: “Thou shalt not use thy car as a garbage dump so that thy passengers must sit amongst thy fast food wrappers, dirty shoes and soda pop cans.”

Douglas Benn reminded drivers, “Honor thy policemen and thy firefighters.” In other words, pull over for flashing lights and sirens.

And, while you’re at it, don’t make too much of a racket of your own.

“Honor the eardrums and the musical taste of thy neighbors. Not all enjoyeth your music played at dome stadium volumes,” was Tim Hamm’s fifth commandment, followed by, “Thou shalt remember that ‘The Fast and the Furious’ was a movie, not a life model.”

Amen.

They know now

Washington State Patrol troopers stopped 822 people for driving improperly around trucks during a five-day crackdown earlier this month.

Troopers used decoy semitrailers along Interstate 90 between Broadway Avenue and the Idaho state line to catch drivers speeding, improperly changing lanes, driving aggressively and tailgating.

Corridor update

The Washington State Department of Transportation will host an open house Thursday to discuss the North Spokane freeway project from I-90 to the Spokane River.

Engineers will also answer questions about the interchanges with I-90 between Liberty Park and Sprague Avenue.

The open house runs from 3 to 7 p.m. Thursday at the East Central Community Center, 500 S. Stone St.

Slow going

I-90

I-90 has been reduced to two lanes in each direction in downtown Spokane for the viaduct repair project. Speed limits are reduced.

The only downtown exits remaining open are eastbound Maple/Walnut, eastbound Division (for southbound traffic only), eastbound Hamilton, westbound Second Avenue, westbound Hamilton and westbound Division.

On-ramps remaining open are eastbound Browne, eastbound Hamilton and westbound Maple.

In Idaho, I-90 is reduced to one lane in each direction from near Mullan Road to Exit 22 at U.S. Highway 97 as crews work on the Blue Creek Bay bridges.

Downtown Spokane

Monroe Street will be reduced by two lanes near First Avenue from 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. today.

North Spokane

Drivers should expect slowdowns at the intersection of Highway 395 and Hastings Road today and Tuesday as flaggers control traffic while signals are installed.

The intersection of Monroe Street and Broadway Avenue will be reduced by one lane each today.

Ash Street is closed from just north of Wellesley Avenue to Northwest Boulevard.

Liberty Avenue is closed from Madelia Street to Pittsburg Street, and Pittsburg is closed from North Foothills Drive to Bridgeport Avenue for repaving.

Mill Road is closed from near Fairwood Road to Dartford Drive for sewer work.

Washington Street is closed from Shannon Avenue to Buckeye until mid-July, with Washington also reduced to one lane in each direction from Boone to Indiana.

Sharp/Sinto Avenue is closed from Haven Street to Fiske Street. Fiske paving is under way between Boone and Mission avenues.

South Spokane

Perry Street is closed from 30th to 32nd avenues Tuesday.

Detours are in place for a closure on 29th Avenue from Havana to Glenrose.

Northbound U.S. Highway 195 is reduced to one lane in several places between Spangle and Hatch Road.

Southeast Boulevard is closed from Perry Street to Third Avenue.

Spokane Valley

Upriver Drive is closed from near Boulder Beach to a few blocks west of Argonne Road. The Centennial Trail is closed along the same stretch.

Highway 27 is reduced to single-lane traffic near 46th Avenue from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.