Drive carefully this winter

At the time of writing, it is December, and just after Christmas. Amidst the returning gifts and buying food for New Year’s Eve parties, one common factor is involved: driving.

More than other years, this year I’ve begun to see it develop earlier. The aggression. Exhausted drivers leaving the mall, arrogant teenage drivers who think they know everything about ice, and the careless driver who looks down at their phone for a second, only to crash into another car’s bumper. Two people passed me on residential roads in ice for no reason, going much faster than any sane person should be. The last thing anyone wants during this time of year is to go sliding into another person’s car and have to pay for repairs, just after the most expensive holiday of the year.

So, my claim is this: I encourage everyone driving to be safe this winter. Allow plenty of stopping distance and extra time to get somewhere so you can arrive safely and calmly. And the older generation is just as responsible as the younger one. Just because you’ve driven longer doesn’t mean you remember everything about winter driving.

Shawn Mulligan

Liberty Lake