One of the appealing things about Idyllwild has been the small-town, slower-paced feeling. Not any more.

Observant folks will notice the proliferation of front-lawn signs urging “slow down.” The more frantic driving style seems to have arrived.

Just for the record, for the ignorant, the default speed limit is 25 miles per hour. A few other places it’s posted 30 mph or 35 mph.

So when I’m driving the 25 mph limit and signal a left turn, then someone almost rear ends me as I’m waiting for traffic to clear, was it ignorance or arrogance?

When I slow down to the 30 limit going through Pine Cove and someone tailgates and flashes bright lights, ignorance or arrogance?

By “ignorance,” I mean, “doesn’t know how fast he or she is going and/or the speed limit.”

By “arrogance” I mean, “How dare you hold me up!” or “I don’t care if I’m endangering others, I’ll drive as fast as I please.”

For me, the question was answered the other day as I was driving up the highway a little over the [speed] limit as a concession to the frantic someone who was 10 feet behind my bumper until they saw the black and white on the side of the road and fell back to a polite and legal distance.

Obviously they knew it was illegal so it was not ignorance.

Eric Townsend
Idyllwild