Like every other opined communicator out there in America, I too was gonna? write about the Republican presidential debate which took place ast week. Then I said, ‘why?? I didn’t even watch it — those who did just wanted to make quick, 140 character snarky remarks for their own amusement. Not I.
So . . . I will carry on what I started last week. Last week, if you recall, I enthralled readers with an exciting narrative of driving on area roads. What made it exciting was watching a driver pass somebody on the shoulder of the road, while both were making a curve to the right.
The narrative concluded with my fessing up that I not only followed said driver to a stop light, snapped a photo of the license plate and posted it on Facebook, but also that I contacted the Oakland County Sheriff’s Department. Since I published that column, many of you have come up and spoke with me with the crux of your views being this: You can’t get away with nothing these days. Whatever you do, somebody has a phone with a camera and a social media account.
Here are some e-mails, from readers, in regards to the column, too.
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Greetings Don Rush,
Your article regarding Teen Drivers was right on target and should be read by everyone who drives a motor vehicle. Too often young and poorly skilled drivers make assumptions and decisions based on the cultural environment they live in and accept those decisions as normal. I am a 66-year-old male and retired Staff Engineer and Marine aviator who spent my entire career working with General Motors. Throughout both my Marine training and my profession at GM, safety was always the number one issue and believe me, it was an important one.
Your decision to ‘alert? the world of this teen driver’s poor decisions was well placed and no matter what, this young person will clearly remember the consequences of his decisions. Perhaps his experience will be passed on to his friends and associates who will have learned from his ‘experiences.? We will never know if and how many people could have been hurt or killed by this learned driving habit(s) but rest assured, your alert will stay in his mind forever and perhaps some day he will quietly thank you.
Gary R., Clarkston, MI
PS ? Clarkston Rd. in the area you mention is likely one of the most treacherous and dangerous stretches of roadway in the state of Michigan and this young man decides to play Burt Reynolds on it. If not for your actions we would likely be seeing cross(s) next the road at some future date.
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From Emily O: YOU CANT JUST FOLLOW RANDOM PEOPLE AND TAKE PICTURES OF THEIR LICENSE PLATE AND CAR AND POST IT ON SOCIAL MEDIA. That’s beyond wrong. Worry about your own driving.
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In my day and my small town, I could bet that any behavior out of the expected would be reported to my parents and the rest of the community before I even got home. Talk about the power of embarrassment as incentive to behave and obey the laws. Seems a lot like the same here with FB being our small town. I agree with your reporting it that way. Sounds like good for the boy and the community was done.
Thanks for you column, Diane K., Clarkston, MI
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And finally, from Bob C., also of Clarkston:
Hey Don – Really!? I’m sure ignorance was driving both the car and those who wrote you opposing your involvement in this situation you experienced last week. Any one of the points you site from the Centers for Disease Control should be enough evidence as to why you were absolutely right getting involved. In fact, the sheriff department should have received several calls, not just from you.
How short memories can be.
Does anyone remember this past May the four teenagers who lost their life when the driver was racing the roadways of Stoney Creek Metropark when he lost control and left the road while driving his daddy’s Jaguar? Another point that should be made is: there should be some sort of restriction that anyone under the age of 20, maybe even under 25, shouldn’t be allowed to drive anything that has more horsepower than their IQ.
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Want to add your thoughts, go to my Twitter page, (http://www.twitter.com/DontRushMeDon) and tweet me!