Respect traffic enforcement

Dear Editor:
Morgan County was only a week into the new school year when one of the local law enforcement officers at the intersection of Myers Road and U.S. 522 directing traffic was nearly clipped by the same vehicle three days in a row. This is outrageous and completely unacceptable. Why is that driver in such a big hurry to cause an accident and possibly go to jail?

There’s no way to blame this on a driver visiting Morgan County, as a tourist wouldn’t be driving in the same place at the same time three days in a row. No, folks, this driver is a local who probably even has a student enrolled at Widmyer Elementary School.

I don’t know who it is. The officer who reported these near misses didn’t either, although he knows the make, model and color of the offending vehicle. Since he’d have to leave his post to charge the person for reckless endangerment, I suggested he use his cell phone to record the offender’s license plate.

It’s not right for law enforcement officers to be in harm’s way while they execute this important twice-daily duty that prevents accidents at the intersections outside of our schools just because a driver is in a hurry or is driving while talking or texting on a cell phone.

Whatever the case is, we need to respect and protect our law enforcement officers while they are on this duty. This county has a very small law force so it’s our duty as citizens to be their “back-up” in situations like this one.

If I’m passing by one of these officers during this duty, I’ll not only carefully follow the directions I’m given for safely navigating during those high-traffic periods, but I’ll also be prepared to give the officer aid in whatever form may be needed should an accident occur while I’m passing through that area.

I ask others to be aware of the potential need for this type of response and to consider being prepared to get involved. The safety of our law officers is our safety too.

Susan Kemenyas
Berkeley Springs