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Highlands Today

Buckle Up To A New Year

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By Raleigh Whiteman | Highlands Today

Published: December 27, 2007

A new beginning.

Beware the end is near and a new beginning is there for the taking for those who have a desire to change their way of living.

There is a world of us who will be making our new year resolutions in hopes that we can change our lives for the better.

For myself I have decided that I really need to reduce the size of my middle by at least two maybe three inches and that will require a lot of exercise an a fairly large decrease in the amount of money I spend on adult refreshments at my various hangouts. I just hope I do not cause any financial hardship for my business partners in the establishments I frequent.

Safer Driving

Now for some suggestions to those of you who would like to do something that will improve your life and/or lifestyle I have one that I came across while reading the Sunday paper this past weekend.

"Ask Marilyn" is a column in the Parade section of the Sunday Tampa Tribune, and she was asked about the safety of seatbelts and whether they contributed to more safety while driving or are people more careless in general. She replied there was little evidence either way.

Seatbelts

I seem to remember reading that most accidents occur within a few miles of home and that is where we are most likely to not buckle up when going to the grocery or other short distance. There is a limerick in force now that is "Click it-or Ticket, " which means it's illegal to drive unbuckled even if we are just a few blocks from home or out on the interstate.

In my thinking I have concluded, without any evidence whatsoever, that if you are going to violate the small infraction of not buckling up you are just as much likely to violate the small 5-10 mph over the speed limit or by passing in the no passing zones. If you are one who passes where it is illegal to do so then you are also just as likely to exceed the speed limits by 30 or more mph and in doing so, if you have to get back into your lane to avoid a head-on collision, you are just as likely to have a roll-over in which you will be ejected even if you are just a few blocks from home while not wearing your seat belt.

Buckle Up

So for you teenagers who have just gotten a driver's license or a grown-up driving a souped-up super car or truck, my one suggestion for a New Year's resolution is to "buckle up" as soon as you get behind the wheel of your vehicle. Maybe, it will remind you of the importance of safe driving habits and your friends in school or peers at work will not have to have a moment of silence in your remembrance ceremony.

I can understand your frustration while driving on the two-mile stretch of Holmes Avenue in Lake Placid and someone ahead of you is only going 30-35 on that two-lane road which has no passing almost the entire length and the speed limit is 45 mph. It happens to me two or three times a week.

Notched Coins

Why are they still notching the edges of our quarters, half dollars and dimes? The reason they were notched before was because they were made of gold and silver, you could tell if the coin had been shaved for its valuable metal.

Raleigh Whiteman, of Lake Placid, can be reached on the Internet at rwwhiteman@comcast.net

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