Be patient for turning traffic

Many of us have to turn off of highways 95, 200 and 2 sometime during our day if we live in or around Sandpoint. These highways are, for the most part, the same width as they were when they were built, which does not afford enough room for turn lanes.

Congratulations to those of you who have the luxury and safety of a turn lane but woe to the rest of us. As tempting as it can be to swing around a car waiting to turn left off of one of these higher speed roads — it is illegal. And far more important than that, it is very dangerous!

If you are driving the car that is directly behind the one turning you are pretty tuned in to the situation, but if you are any further than that behind you have no clue until it is right in front of you that you are going to need to swing to the right… quickly, at times into the shoulder and at your current speed.

It is easy to see how accidents like the three-car rear ending at Highway 95 and Woolsey Road on Thursday can happen. If you see someone signaling to make a turn off of a higher speed road, slow down, get ready to stop and let them relax and know that they are not going to be smashed into while trying to get home. I live down Woolsey Road and so does my daughter, who drives home every day and is always leery when the time comes to make that turn.

We try to always stay right as we are waiting our time to turn so other cars won't have the room to come around on our right. This decision was made after the many stories I have heard of accidents at my turn. Please be conscientious and let people turn in safety.

KIM BOND

Sagle