Making the roadways of our region safer happens when we pay attention.
The Valley News editorial “Pedestrians in the crosshairs” (Oct. 31) was a fact-filled alert for drivers, walkers and bikers. Its summary of fatalities was punctuated the following day by an Associated Press article, “Out of injury, a cause,” about an elite marathoner who sustained debilitating injuries when forced to leap out of the path of a distracted driver. Then, a few days later, we learned of a pedestrian critically injured crossing Route 12A in West Lebanon.
According to the Lebanon Police Department, distracted driving is the No. 1 threat to traffic safety in our community.
As drivers, we must proceed with caution on our roadways. As the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration reminds us, at some point, almost everyone is a pedestrian. Keep an eye out for crosswalk signs when the crosswalk itself is obscured by salt, snow or darkness. When passing a cyclist, have patience, slow down, don’t pass on hills or corners and give at least 4 feet of space. Protecting life and preventing injury is that easy.
The 7,140 pedestrians and bicyclists killed nationally last year is a devastating reminder of how deadly our roadways can be. Beyond that, injuries of bicyclists and pedestrians climbed to 595,000 in 2015 (467,000 of those were suffered by bikers). Life can be forever changed in an instant of distraction.
As pedestrians, responsibility is also ours. Following common-sense road safety practices like those listed at nhtsa.gov is a good start. Those tips also apply to bikers. As cyclists, following the rules of the road is our part of the bargain whenever we choose to travel in traffic. Be visible, predictable and please don’t run red lights or stop signs. These are life-saving ways to enjoy your commute.
No matter how you travel for work or pleasure, get in the habit of scanning the street for wheels and feet to be safer each time you venture out.
Allan Reetz, Meriden
Hanover Co-op Food Stores & Auto Service Centers
Bethany Fleishman, Hartford
Vital Communities
Colin Smith, Lebanon
Lebanon Pedestrian and Bicyclist Advisory Committee
I am writing to let Wayne Gersen and other highly compensated individuals, past and present, know about some exciting options available to them (“Solving Social Security: My unexpected November pay raise,” Nov. 16). The Social Security Administration already accepts donations, which can help it delay or avoid its projected bankruptcy.
You don’t need to be a current wage earner to give back now. You can make recurring or one-time gifts at any time. Another option is to include the Social Security Administration in your will or estate plans or name it a full or partial beneficiary of a retirement account or life insurance policy. You can also give anonymously, or in honor or in memory of friends or family.
For example, if you feel you could have paid an additional $1,700 in Social Security tax annually for 20 years, you could make a single gift of $34,000 today or make annual gifts of $1,700 for life. If you think you may outlive your assets, arrange to make your gift after you pass. You can even factor in inflation, if you like.
There are even two funds for your consideration: the Old-Age and Survivors Insurance Trust Fund, which pays benefits to retirees and the families of workers who have died, or the Disability Insurance Trust Fund, which pays benefits to people who are unable to work because of a disability.
If it’s true that a majority of highly compensated wage earners would be willing to make a small sacrifice today to help generations of senior citizens in the future, then no action by Congress is needed. All that’s needed is to make people aware of these options in our schools and workplaces and a steady flow of donations and estate gifts should soon be on the way to the Social Security Administration.
Learn more at ssa.gov (search for “donations”).
DAVID ELY
Grantham
California, and all states: Where are your metal detectors? Don’t have them? It tells me you and all schools want more kids killed (“School shooting motive unknown,” Nov. 16).
What’s wrong with metal detectors? People pay taxes. Why can’t schools have them? This puzzles me. No one does anything about gun violence. Police say the shooter had this gun in his backpack.
E. CUTTING
Lebanon
Two of my favorite pastimes are skiing and drinking wine. Despite living in the state of “no income or sales tax,” I still pay an 8% sales tax when I order wine from a California winery. OK, it’s not called a sales tax but a “wine importation fee.”
Now the Democrats (and I admit to being a registered Democrat) are proposing a sales tax on ski lift tickets. But, in their attempt to obfuscate their intent, the tax will be part of the “meals and rooms tax.” I think it’s time to reconsider the validity of “The Pledge” that New Hampshire politicians are forever being asked to make. Let’s just enact an income tax (which has now eliminated my electability, should I run for Congress).
PETE BLEYLER
West Lebanon