What should motorists do when they observe dangerous drivers?

Q I was driving on a four-lane street in San Jose and the driver in the next lane just slightly ahead of me kept drifting into my lane, back and forth.

When I pulled up next to her at the light it was an older driver.

I’m concerned that perhaps she shouldn’t be driving anymore and wondered if I could report her to the DMV. I took down the license plate, car make and model, the location and the time. Where would I report this?

— Sue D., San Jose

A You have a couple of options. First, pass on your information to San Jose police, who may subsequently contact the driver and report her to the DMV.

But if you know someone who may no longer drive safely, you may submit a Request for Driver Reexamination (DS 699) to the DMV to review their driving qualifications.

You could do this confidentially and can submit the form to report unsafe drivers whether or not you know them personally.

Q El Camino Real is so bad that I broke a bicycle spoke crossing at El Monte. It’s worse now than when it was first created back in the 1760s as a dirt road. Now I fear the Ghost of Father Serra will return to haunt the California highway department. It will be a well-earned haunting.

— Jim Thurber, Mountain View

A Quite the image, “a well-earned haunting.”

Q On several occasions, around 5:30 a.m. weekdays, I have seen four to six motorcycle officers merge onto northbound Highway 101 in Morgan Hill.

They ride in a tight formation from 101 to 85 to 87. What’s with these guys?

— Max Mun, Monterey

A They are most likely San Jose officers heading to work. They are permitted to take their motorcycles home.

Q Moffett Field police were running a sting operation because of the large volume of cars exiting on Moffett Boulevard due to a medical emergency on Highway 101 at Middlefield Road.

I was ticketed for an illegal U-turn at the light just before the entrance to the base. The officer said the good news is that because the infraction was on federal property, it is not reported to the DMV. Do you know if that is a fact?

— Bob Larrieu

A It is your lucky day. Violations on federal property are not reported to the DMV. Q A friend told me salt is used on California highways. I told him he is nuts. — Terry Friend

A Caltrans uses salt, brine (salt and water) and sand on mountain roads before, during and after storms for de-icing and traction.