Shootings on Southland Freeways

The freeways are crowded, the rush is great, the pressure to hurry, hurry, hurry, is ever present. Tempers are short, and in some uncontrollable mental deviants, uncontrollable.

The murder of Rick Bynum (or someone like him) was predictable. There is precedent. It happened recently to a woman police officer, and will probably happen again.

The similarities between the two are remarkable. Both victims were passengers in vehicles traveling in the fast lane. Both vehicles had been flashed by a car wanting to pass. In neither instance did the vehicle in which the victim was riding change lanes and allow the flasher to pass.

Murder is never justified, and especially for such a trivial event. Both victims were innocent passengers. The drivers claim they could not change lanes, or they would have allowed “the flasher” to pass.

Rudeness on the roads is increasing. Accidents are up because lanes are narrower, traffic is heavier, and drivers frequently fail to display common courtesy to fellow drivers.

Professionals involved in responding to emergencies frequently complain of encountering inconsiderate slow drivers in the fast lane. The majority of these slow drivers refuse to budge when you flash your lights, and some even make obscene gestures when you pass them on the right.

Let’s bring courtesy back to our roads. If someone flashes to pass--put on your turn signals and attempt to change lanes. A blinking signal indicates your willingness to change lanes and your intention to let the flasher pass. Give the flasher the benefit of the doubt. You may help save a life--and the life you save may be your own.

S. T. DERKUM

Santa Ana