STEER CLEAR: Make Idaho drivers courteous again

Forget dog poop. Getting cut off on 95 today put me over the edge. Time for a long-overdue rant about Idaho driving: I moved back home in 2018, and after many serenity prayers, I’ve adjusted to the garish houses and crowded spaces — but bad driving still gets me. Idaho drivers used to be courteous to a fault. I think the newcomers need some guidelines:

1. Use your turn signal. It doesn’t make you “beta.” In fact, it almost rhymes with Sigma. Be Sigma: Use your Signal.

2. Lose the blinding LEDs. I’m sure they’re great for you, but the rest of us aren’t enjoying the alien abduction effect. If you see my high beams or mirrors flashing back at you, consider that a hint.

3. Let people merge. Signaling shouldn’t be an invitation for you to speed up and block them. That used to be basic courtesy.

4. Help people stuck in snow or ice. It’s a time-honored Idaho tradition and is usually kind of fun.

5. Most of you don’t need a monster truck. If you drive one aggressively, you’re not impressing anyone.

My dad likes to quote Matthew 7:3-5. In that spirit, longtime Idahoans, let’s also adjust a couple of our own habits:

1. Stop going the speed limit (or slower) in the passing lane. This is the only place in the world where that’s a thing, and it’s maddening.

2. Know your right-of-way. Waving people through when it’s not their turn is sweet — but also a hazard.

Your Coeur d’Alene man yelling at clouds,

JIMMY ROBNETT

Coeur d’Alene