Letter to the Editor

    Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to submit some issues for your readers consideration.  I have three issues:

    I want to ask the citizens of Central to give those of us trying to mow our ditches, get the mail from our mailboxes or put the garbage by the side of the road a little room.  Most Central roads have no shoulders so when I wait for a break in the action and try to mow my ditch bank or get my mail, I am constantly amazed at how many cars make no attempt to move over or slow down or otherwise attempt to respect that a human being is within inches of their vehicle, even when it would be easy to move over.  In 2009, the Colin Goodier Protection Act was passed by the Louisiana Senate as a result of a truck hitting, and killing, a bicycle rider.  I really do not want a law named after me or any other citizen of our city.  I understand that many on Central roads are not from the area but for those who are, I am pleading with you to slow down and move over when coming up on someone checking their mail, mowing close to the roadway or even putting their garbage by the side of the road.  Here are my suggestions:

The Colin Goodier Protection Act provides for three feet clearance between vehicles and bicycles.  That's a good place to start.  Move over three feet if you can.

If you can't move over because of oncoming traffic, then please slow down.  You don't get any extra credit for passing as close as possible and as fast as possible to someone standing by the road checking their mail, mowing their ditch bank or putting their garbage by the side of the road.  It's not funny when you are on the receiving end of the close proximity of a fast moving vehicle.

    I am asking you to please not toss garbage out of your car window into the various ditches and yards along your route.  The diversity of trash that clogs my ditch and litters my ditch bank is astounding.  It is embarrassing that functioning human beings can't save their trash in a plastic bag until they pass by a trash can.  My ditch is not a trash can.  I do not understand the urge for someone to throw trash out their window or the basic lack of consideration for fellow citizens that causes someone do this.  Somebody has to clean up the trash from your thoughtless act.  Keep it clean folks!

I don't think most folks mind if you use their drive way to turn around but I shouldn't have to ask that you not drive through my yard while turning around.  It may look solid and dry but I can assure you that after a rain, the ground is soft.  We have had to pull cars turning around from my front yard with a tractor.  This leaves deep ruts and unfulfilled promises to come back and repair the damage.  Just a little common sense and basic consideration for the property of others would go a long way to prevent this type of thing.

Thank you for your consideration.

Respectfully,

Ken Watts

13317 Joor Road

For more information about the Colin Goodier Protection Act visit www.brsafestreets.org/the-law-and-safety