The Buzz Best wishes for a safe holiday seasaon

By Marlene Bohr

About the time this newspaper hits the stands and mailboxes, Santa will have arrived, Christmas presents will have been exchanged, holiday feasts enjoyed and the fellowship of family and friends has abounded. This is the time between Christmas and New Years that holds a glow from the excitement of Christmas and the looking forward to a New Year. This is the time to seriously make some resolutions and try to stick to them. I say ‘try,’ as how many of us really do that?
December greeted us with some cold and rainy weather. It seemed like days upon days went by with no sun in sight. How nice was it when we finally had sunshine again in our corner of East Texas. Back to the rainy days and wet roadways and driving. Please slow down people. It’s only common sense. I guess I seem to be a slowpoke as I drive along more slowly than I used to on wet surfaces. I know what it is to look at cars passing and see them literally driving on water. The water on the roadway is just about as slick as if it was solid ice, and when tires are riding on water, you can lose control of your vehicle in an instant. It doesn’t matter how big or small your vehicle is either.
Recently going out to one of the mishaps on the highway when someone was driving too fast for conditions, I again realized how dangerous water on the roadway really is. One person lost control of her vehicle, slid across the road and demolished the front end of another vehicle and landed in the ditch. Do you think that might have been avoided if she hadn’t been driving too fast for conditions at the time? What was so fortunate was a few inches another way and the person who was hit could have been killed. It’s serious out there when it is raining. Slow down and don’t hydroplane.
I was reminded again how much our law enforcement personnel are putting their lives on the line every day for us. Out on the highway the Texas State Trooper comes to work the wreck, and there are deputies from the sheriffs’ office directing traffic, and if it is close to a city, officers from the local police departments show up to assist. The usual accident involves the ambulance service and our local volunteer fire departments. That’s a lot of people called out there to assist in a motor vehicle accident.
When you come upon the scene of a motor vehicle accident and the officials are there to help, be kind and slow down and watch out for these people. All of them are doing a job and are helping the victims in accidents, and they should not have to watch out for the citizens just driving by. We all want to see what happened, but be aware of the people working at the scene. Slow down and get by as safely as you can. I have seen people just fly by accidents if they could. I also saw Lone Star Police Chief Larry Fleet go after one and issue a ticket. Way to go Chief Fleet!
Another thought when you come upon an accident scene and officials are there, do not stop and get out of your vehicle and sneak down the ditch to see what is going on. We all know about some of those pictures that get posted on social media that have no business being there. You wouldn’t want that happening to you or your family, so don’t do it. Be respectful.
I have rambled from Santa and Christmas to New Years and driving safely. You all know you should not drink and drive; no one should have to be reminded. However, I am reminding you all again, do not drink and drive. Rest assured in addition to the State Troopers, every law officer will be out in more than full force during the holidays.
This is the time of year that wonderful memories are made from and if we all are watchful of others, drive safely when roadways dictate we should, watch out for your officials out there on the road (be assured they are watching you) it will be a wonderful holiday season to remember.