Be courteous to merging drivers

Editor: I’ve lived in the West Bench/Sage Mesa area of Penticton for eight years. This letter is to all drivers coming and going on Highway 97 north of the city.

There is more to driving than the mechanical operation of a motor vehicle. It involves skill, courtesy, safety and common sense. If you see a motorist waiting to merge onto the highway, and it’s safe to do so, move into the left hand or passing lane and let them in.

There is no access lane at the base of Sage Mesa to “get up to speed” on to the highway. One has to start from zero and hit 100 as soon as possible which is difficult to do in our smaller vehicle.

I can’t count how many times brain-dead car jockeys roar up behind me as I’m trying to gain speed when the left lane is empty. I wouldn’t pull out if you didn’t have that option as I’m not suicidal.

The jackass list continues to grow, from the the jacked up Ram who tried to run me off the highway to the young couple in the white SUV who came right up to my rear bumper with arms flailing and lips flapping all while the left lane was empty.

By the way, the same applies as I’m departing the highway to go back up the hill. I am going to slow gradually to make the left turn as it’s a very short stopping lane and I don’t feel compelled to fry my brakes so you can get down the road two seconds faster.

Roger Scott, West Bench