Wednesday, July 23, 2003

Thank you for finally saying it. I have waited some three years for you to come to my defense when I wrote the "Left Lane Jane" letter and got scalded by some old ladies and others who are innocents.

The Lone Arranger knows what's wrong but is too afraid to say it. Its now time for someone to tell who these left lane laggards are, so, I guess I am elected. Here goes.

1. The country bumpkin who has no idea of the rules of the road. He just wants to get there at the least speed.

2. The old ladies who are lagging in the left lane and it's none of your business.

3. The teenagers (mostly girls) who just finished driver's ed and were not instructed to drive right, pass left. This is a fault of the state. The instructors should be told it is mandatory to teach the students to drive right.

4. The minority drivers, black and Hispanic, who really believe the left lane was put there for them.

5. There are the worst laggards yet to come. These are the fair ladies who believe it would be slumming to have to drive right. They are so pretty with a cell phone hooked to one ear and a cancer stick in the mouth. You can blow the horn all you want but the most you get is the finger.

We know there are many people who are ignorant and will never understand the rules of the road, but there are many men of high IQ who drive their pickups in the left lane just so you and I can see what a pretty plaything they have. Or maybe it's a convertible red sport car that you must look at and the only way I can persuade you to look is get in the left lane and back up traffic.

There is a solution to this. One is to pass a law to force drivers to get in the right lane. Another is to install the signs and enforce them. One more. Pass these laggards on the right, move in front of them and slow to about 10 miles per hour, and they may get the hint.

Frank Hyde

Peachtree City