Local drivers suggest New Year's resolutions

It's the second week of January. Do you know where your New Year's resolutions are?

Thanks to all of you who shared the changes you wish fellow drivers would make on our highways and byways. Here's a sampling.

Debra Casey, formerly of Maui, wants you all to inject a little aloha in your driving. That means acknowledging when fellow drivers do thoughtful things, such as letting you merge onto a busy street or highway.

"It conveys appreciation, and it connects the people inside the cars," Casey wrote. "Here in Seattle, I continue the wave after lane changes, or anytime another driver shows me their aloha. I think others appreciate this, and it reminds me that we are all in this [traffic] together."

Surprise, surprise, people can't stand tailgaters. Karen Janes of Issaquah and Chuck Hastings of Federal Way both wish folks behind them — particularly those driving big trucks and SUVs who often can see over the tops of smaller cars — would back off when they see the reason for the slowdown is even more cars ahead of them.

Hastings wrote that he's fed up with drivers who aggressively tailgate "while I'm following another vehicle at a safe distance, can't speed up without tailgating the vehicle in front of me! And then blow a long horn blast when I turn off the road as they roar on past.

"These bullies need a course in road rage management."

Janette Roberts of Issaquah wishes drivers would remember to stop at all stop signs, even neighborhood ones.

"We walk our dogs regularly and have almost been hit, not to mention almost being hit while in our car. The city placed the stop sign there for a reason."

Candis Pasion had several suggestions: Drivers should either get off their cellphones and concentrate, or move to the far right lane; drivers should stop forcing themselves into merges at the last minute; and if people can't drive the speed limit, they have no business being in the left lane.

One of you even forwarded a link to online encyclopedia Wikipedia's guide, aptly titled, on "How to avoid annoying other drivers." Highlights from the list:

• Don't tailgate. Wait for your opportunity to pass (obviously, this person has never driven in California).

• Drive consistently. Don't speed up or slow down for no reason, don't make one turn fast and the next slow. This helps other drivers anticipate your next move. And flick on your headlights if the weather is lousy enough to require windshield wipers.

• Use the zipper approach for merges: You let one person in front of you, the person behind you lets one person in front of them.

• Car pool to the slopes

Car pooling isn't just a way to get to work. At www.rideshareonline.com, King County's matchmaking site for would-be car and van poolers, you can search for fellow skiers, boarders and sledders who want to cruise the same hills as you and head on up together to save on gas, have some company or reach the slopes if you are sans car. Snow sports not your thing? Check the site to hitch a ride to Seattle Opera's "Die Fledermaus," Seahawks playoff games or this year's travel show at Seattle Center.

• Highway 522 redo

FYI, the state Department of Transportation has finished restriping westbound Highway 522 to enable drivers turning northbound onto Highway 104 to enter the turning lane sooner and avoid westbound backups in the morning.

Early warning

King County: Go to http://dnr.metrokc.gov/wlr/flood/flood.htm or www.govlink.org for King County and regional flood information, or call 800-945-9263 for a frequently updated flood information hot line. Report trouble on county-maintained roads at 800-KC-ROADS.

Snoqualmie Pass: The state DOT predicts rain and snow this weekend. Go to http://wsdot.wa.gov/traffic/forecast/Default.aspx?zone=WA018 for updated forecasts.

Karen Gaudette: 206-515-5618 or kgaudette@seattletimes.com