Dear Moreno Valley Residents,
I heard a priest jokingly remark once that “the milk of human kindness curdles in the church parking lot.” A joke, yes, but his point was well-taken: When we get behind the wheel, we sometimes treat others in ways we’d never consider in person. Now that both the darkness of winter and the brightness of the holidays are upon us, as your Mayor and as a fellow MoVal resident, I hope we all will be especially careful, as well as more patient and kind toward each other, on the roads.
This time of year, a mix of seasonal conditions make driving more risky than usual. It gets dark just when the evening rush hour is underway. Rain-covered windshields and wet roads make it harder to see pedestrians and stop quickly. There are also more drivers on the roads, as residents head out for holiday shopping and celebrations, which makes driver courtesy and patience more important than ever.
And, of course, more drivers going to and from holiday gatherings are likely to be under the influence of alcohol and other drowsiness-inducing drugs, such as cold medicine. Driving under the influence of any drug to any degree is never OK. It puts you and every other motorist and pedestrian around you at an unnecessary risk. Please don’t take any chances.
The holidays can and should be a time of generosity of spirit. Let’s extend that generosity toward others to our time as drivers, as well.