Just Sayin': Driver asks: When are medians barriers?

William Floyd Parkway is heavily traveled, and northbound and southbound lanes are divided by grassy medians of 20 feet to maybe 100 feet wide. Much of the median is heavily treed where you cannot see traffic in the opposite direction.

Recently, I noticed many near-accidents. They involve a school bus stopping to pick up or drop off students.

Drivers going 45 miles per hour or faster might see a bus stopped with flashing red lights in the other direction. They’re unsure if they should stop. Although the bus is far across the median, which has a ditch for water runoff maybe six feet deep, some cars jam their brakes. causing other cars to jam theirs, or veer onto the shoulder.

I have been told different things about the law by police officers and bus drivers. Mostly, I’m told that unless there is a barrier dividing the highway, drivers must stop.

Is 20 feet a barrier? Or a ditch of two to six feet? What about 50 feet, flat grass but some trees?

Students almost never cross the parkway median, so the law should be clarified. Otherwise, cars will keep jamming brakes and getting rear-ended.

Three ways to better American democracy

These three major suggestions could help improve our democracy.

Raise Social Security pay, and don’t tax it

One cannot live on Social Security. It does not pay enough. And try to get a job when you are told you’re too old. It makes one feel desperate. Social Security payments should be raised more so one can live comfortably.

Also, Social Security payments should not be taxed nor should IRA distributions to people older than 72.