How to deal with `street racers'

I have what might be an odd solution to this apparent "street racing" epidemic.

Stop calling it street racing. You're simply glamorizing an idiotic behaviour with a dramatic title.

And aside from the brainless few who actually organize late night races on secluded public roads in suburbia, most of the tragic crashes we read about involving high speed are really the result of careless and reckless behaviour and not technically street racing – and not typically by these evil modified "street racing" machines either.

The term "street racer" itself seems to carry some sort of "rebel without a cause" aura. The fact that the media, the politicians, and now even the law refers to the person or the machine as such, almost rewards this behaviour.

It's been a long time since I was in high school, but I have to think that the idiots parading around the hallways who carry this label of "street racer" carry it with pride.

Why not call it what it is? It's careless driving.

"Careless" seems like a far less glamorous title.

My thought might be considered far-fetched, but I believe the media created and inadvertently promoted the "street racing" glamour. Might be time to undo what you've done.

Tim Chisholm, North York

Here's a suggestion:

If a person is convicted of drunk driving, racing, careless driving, dangerous driving or has three moving violations within a 12-month period, the licence plate of the passenger vehicle or motorcycle that they own will be changed to RED. Their driver's licence will also be RED.

They will be required to display the plates for a period of two years from date of conviction. (I appreciate that foreign ambassador vehicles now display a red plate, but that could easily be changed as the numbers must be minimal.)

If a person is stopped driving a passenger vehicle or motorcycle other than their own, during this two-year period, their driver's licence will be immediately seized by the authorities and there will be an automatic suspension for a period of two years.

Obviously this rule would not apply to a commercial vehicle, which would infringe on the convicted person's right to make a living.

In doing so, those of us who obey the traffic laws of Ontario and treat our driver's licence as a privilege rather than a right can easily identify drivers who don't, allowing us to be more cautious around them.

Yes, some convicted individuals may see the red plate as some sort of stupid badge of honour, but in time that would wear thin.

Can you imagine a convicted person having to tell his/her spouse that the one vehicle they own has a red plate and they have to drive that vehicle? What about friends, neighbours and business associates and what they are thinking? Talk about peer pressure!

When are we going to stop making excuses for why we can't do certain things and step up and introduce measures to make our roads safer?

We simply have to do something now to stop the carnage that is happening on our roads today.

It's time to start protecting those of us who obey the laws and who respect others.

Paul Facciol, Alliston

Some happy memories

of when there was service

Ding ding! Time for a fill and wash

Lorraine Sommerfeld, June 16

Thanks for the memories!

I was a gas jockey at my father's BP service station in the 1960s and early '70s, at the corner of Guelph Line and New Street in Burlington.

I started pumping gas when I was 8 years old, so I had a lot of experience cleaning car windows by the time Dad gave it up when I was 17.

The routine was simple: When the bell went off, I had to run out and greet the customer within seconds of the car rolling to a stop. Ask the driver how much gas to pump, start filling, and clean the windows until they were very clean (no bug smudges were permitted at my dad's station!).

When I was very young, cleaning the middle of the windshield was a challenge, and on some of the bigger cars, I had to stand on tiptoes to get the job done. Asking if I could check the oil was a requirement, and it was good service to show the customer how high the oil was on the dipstick. Then, on to the next customer.

If the customer asked for a fill-up, I could let the pump run until the handle clicked off. But, if the customer only wanted so many dollars, then I had to keep an eye on the pump while cleaning the windows so that it wouldn't run over.

It took a while to clean all the windows (doing just the windshield wasn't good enough), and they didn't have automatic shut-off pumps based on dollar amount back then.

On occasion, I would miss the right amount, and only once can I remember a customer not wanting to pay the difference.

If I got everything done before the gas had stopped filling, I would watch those little red balls spinning around in the glass ball (to prove that gasoline was being delivered to the vehicle) until the pump clicked off.

If it was particularly busy, I would help two or three customers at the same time and jump between cars, pumping gas, cleaning windows, and running in and out to process the payment. My dad's service station was known for good service, and I was proud to be a part of that reputation.

When it comes to filling up and window washing, three things remain with me to this very day:

I always prefer self-serve, even on those rare occasions when I have a choice these days.

I am compelled to wash all the windows on my car; I can't just do the windshield – it doesn't feel right until all windows are cleaned.

The windows have to be cleaned with few, if any, streaks; I still take pride in doing a good job, especially when compared with the "amateurs" at the next pump over who may not lift the windshield wipers to clean underneath them.

Ron Bremer, Carlisle

Please don't use peanut

butter for car cleaning

Peanut butter excellent for cleaning auto plastic

Your View, June 9

I read about someone using peanut butter to clean auto plastic. My best friend is a master technician and is highly allergic to peanuts, and even if he touches it he will react. So please use the proper cleaning products to clean your vehicles. Thanks,

Fred Harmsen, Kingston

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