With all of the road closures and detours in our region due to scheduled construction and storm damage repair and cleanup, it's easy to forget that driver courtesy will help get you where you want to go without raising your blood pressure.

            Plenty of new residents have moved into the area and may not be familiar with the roads and available alternatives to get them where they're going.  Be patient and give them some room.  It will be better and safer for everyone.  Tailgating and being on their bumper will not make them go faster.  It could frighten the driver into driving even slower, defeating your intent of making them speed up. 

            The speed limit is the speed limit. 

            On several occasions I've written about how beautiful our region is and that everyone should take the opportunity to take a ride in our countryside.  It is a great way to become familiar with the roads while enjoying a relaxing ride.

            Don't wait until you face being late for work or an appointment to realize you only know one way to get where you need to go. 

            Don't be afraid to leave a few minutes early.  That way you won't have to rush or become agitated when you come across that unexpected road closure.  Know your neighborhoods, know the alternative routes of travel.  If you get to your destination a little early, well that's not necessarily a bad thing.

            Running stop signs and racing through red lights won't get you where you're going much quicker.  It just endangers you and others.  How often have you been sitting at a red light, waiting for it to turn green so you can proceed and, just when it signals that it is safe for you to go, a car ignores the red signal and flies through the intersection nearly causing an accident.

           I see it every day and I won't enter an intersection when I have the green light without checking in both directions.  Neither should you.

            Schools will be opening soon and I am sure that our area roads will still be facing some construction closures and delays.  All drivers will need to be extra cautious and on the lookout for increased traffic on many roads.

            Slow down, drive safely, leave early, and know where you're going and alternate ways of getting there.