New Jersey drivers---they're lethal

Having been nearly driven off the road on Friday evening on Haddonfield-Berlin Road by a Black Escalade (NJ Plate RHJ 51J), I thought I would reprint Nancy Muccolini's leter to the Editor that appeared in Thursday's Burlington County Times. All I can say is, I and my family carry Full Tort coverage---if one of you clowns or your kids so much as taps my bumper, you can count on losing your house. Slow down! By the way, the driver of the Escalade wasn't on a cell phone---just driving too fast.

Here's the letter.

Kudos to the valiant traffic police for issuing approximately 120,000 tickets to hand-held, cell-phone-using motorists since the New Jersey law went into effect.

Judging by the continued ignorance and disregard of both the law and public safety on the roads, I only wish the summers numbers were threefold.

While New Jersey has the dubious distinction of having one of the nation's highest property taxes, this state seems to be a "leader" in the number of moronic, self-absorbed drivers as well.

The dread of watching the clueless whiz by without lights on during darkened rainstorms or racing through obvious read lights, yield signs, pedestrian crossings and even stopped school buses, applying makeup or, the most incredulous of all, texting their equally oblivious friends has significantly increased.

Combined with drunken drivers who have multiple offenses and still continue to threaten the lives of law abiding motorists (on the level of pedophiles for criminal action) as they speed on our streets and high ways, it is imperative for our "officialdom", schools and responsible parents to instill in all of us the understanding that driving is a privilege and not a fundamental right.

Clueless driving is abhorent, criminal, and deserving of both financial and personal (jail time) punishment.

In the age of quasi-school reform and new curriculums, this state could use a return to some "old fashioned" driver's education in our public schools.

In the meantime, let's hope the police keep a watchful eye on the cell-phone yappers as they continue to place the rest of us in potential jeopardy whenever they turn on their vehicle ignition.

Nancy R. Muccolini
Easthampton