Hang up the phone and concentrate on safe driving

Miss Manners, she wasn't.

Instead of an apologetic wave or grimace, the young lady — to use the term loosely — instead chose to wave a different digit when she almost ran us down in the crosswalk at Second and Church as a friend and I walked back to the office after getting coffee.

Apparently her cell phone conversation was far more important than mundane things like stopping for pedestrians already in the crosswalk or ever stopping completely.

Her license plate number has been turned over to the appropriate authorities.

Young women, according to a blogger who walks around town on a regular basis, rank near the bottom when it comes to obeying the rules. The best are young men.

"As someone who has been pushing a wheelchair around Sandpoint for many years, I can tell you the effect of crosswalk enforcement is very positive. The problem is, only a few months later, drivers are just as rude and inconsiderate as ever. I can't tell you how many times a car has been within inches of myself as they speed along. The best crosswalk stoppers are always young men. The next best are moms. Towards the worst are young girls who seem oblivious to that fact they are even driving a car. But the worst crosswalk stoppers by far are the older men. They just seemed so annoyed at having to stop.

"Granted this town is far from a friendly walking town, but with the help of the local Sandpoint Police, it can only get better."

Caroline Lobsinger is the managing editor of the Daily Bee.