Driver education?

Come on Joe Busuttil (September 30) some drivers do need to air their armpits and do you expect them to add to the hazard of smoking by exposing themselves to second-hand smoke, as well? I agree with you, of course, and I must add one other point to your concern. Often those drivers, and others, are very fussy about keeping their ashtrays clean. A lit cigarette ending under a car with a leaking fuel tank can spell disaster.

In the past I have written about the same point about educating drivers through the media, something that the media should take up as a community service. A short blurb on the radio and TV, a daily quote from the Highway Code in the papers could start this education. Every driver should also have a copy of the code. A few months ago it took me several visits to bookstores until I was directed to where I could get a copy of the code.

Two other observations to add. My driving takes me regularly to the bottom of Birkirkara Hill. The road, at the lights, is clearly marked with signs and arrows directing drivers to a lane going towards Sliema and one to Ta' Giorni. Often drivers drive in the latter, usually no signals, and try to bully themselves to turn towards Sliema. This often creates a traffic jam so that cars coming from Ta' Giorni and going towards San Gwann will have to wait for at least one other green traffic light to proceed. A local warden could have a field day at that intersection. I suppose that there are similar intersections.

Secondly, a stop sign means stop. So many drivers seem to think that it is the drivers who have the right of way who must read the sign and stop. It is fine, and common courtesy, if a driver who has right of way to let someone in from a stop position if safe to do so. In fact, in rush-hour traffic it will speed matters if all drivers were disciplined to allow vehicles from a side road merge alternately onto the main stream of traffic.