With the recent rain, the threats of brush and field fires have, at least temporarily, diminished.  But instead of catching a well-deserved break, our first responders have been met with an increase in traffic accidents.

            Gee, I wonder if speeding and carelessness might be feeding this current round of incidents.  Just pay special attention when you are cruising your local roads and see what I mean.

            How many times have you witnessed vehicles making a right turn on red even though the "No Turn on Red" sign is posted and clearly visible?  How many times have you seen a car coming towards you, with the green light, and making a left in front of the car in front of you who is making an illegal turn on red?  Crash.

            Favorite local spots to witness that scenario are Sixth and Main streets in Red Hill, Montgomery Avenue, Layfield Road in Upper Hanover Township, and 11th and Main streets and the borough line between Pennsburg and Red Hill.

            And, don't forget; to some drivers red means stop, green means go, and yellow means go faster.  It is illegal to enter an intersection when the light is yellow yet some unsafe drivers will enter the intersection when the light turns red.  Always look both ways before you enter that intersection so you don't become a victim of someone who is in a hurry.

            When you're approaching an intersection controlled by stop signs, how many times have you seen a driver speed to the intersection, slam on the brakes like they are going to stop, see you stopped and ready to proceed, and they then jump on the accelerator just to get in front of you? The intersection of Geryville Pike, James Road, and St. Paul's Church Road is a good one for that.  I am sure you have your own favorite for the near-misses that you experience nearly every day.

            Leaving or coming into Pennsburg on Route 663 can be a challenge when four lanes turn into two.  What's the hurry?  If you pass the car in front, you still have a traffic light waiting for you.  It turns red, you have to stop anyway, so what did you really gain?

            The same holds true for traffic heading east on Route 663 through the intersection with Quaker Pointe Drive when the road narrows.  Again, watching one car try and get in front of another can make you cringe as they speed to gain their perceived advantage.

            I am sure there are other examples of places where driving becomes a dangerous challenge because some drivers won't yield (even when they are warned to) and others who never learned acts of courtesy and safety while driving.

            Berks, Bucks, Lehigh, and Montgomery counties – many of us have seen (or experienced) the near fender-benders, the actual fender-benders, and worse.

            Where do you think drivers express the least safety and/or courtesy awareness in your local driving experience?  Shoot us an email or a note letting us know the location.  We'll compile a list of them and let our readers know about these spots so they can be extremely careful when traversing them.