"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has."

Margaret Mead

*6,000 pedestrians are killed every year

*90.000 pedestrians are injured each year

*A pedestrian or bicyclist is killed every 3 1/2 minute

* Pedestrian injuries and fatalities result in $20 billion in societal costs

Now that I have your attention, can I ask you why can't we all share the road? So you speed sometimes and gingerly run an occasional stop sign. Or it's okay to ignore signals because everyone else does. Not such a big deal --- or is it? How would you feel if a stop-sign runner speeds through a school zone where your child is waiting for a school bus? Courtesy means "an act of politeness" or something given for free. Civility, then, is about politeness only insofar as it enables conversation and debate about issues, which are, or should be, of concern to us all.

It is not about agreement, though I suspect it is usually, or often, about reaching compromise. At its deepest level, civility is about our duty to practice good citizenship through constructive participation in the political process and in the local community. It is the sum of the many sacrifices we are called upon to make for the sake of living together. It's not just about form and formality. It's about quality of life. It requires respect for human life and the ability to perceive human life as valuable. Have we become unwilling to make those sacrifices any longer?

I would offer that in a civil society the common good must be placed above one's own self-interest, but the cry for "individual rights" in our day has superseded civility. Alternately stated, individual rights may need to be abrogated in order for a civil society to exist. Courtesy is the social lubricant that eases social and commercial interaction. In many instances, laws are necessary because individuals do not routinely use good manners or courtesy before turning, right of way and pulling over to the side when emergency vehicles are using lights and sirens are three that come readily to mind. Here is how Edmund Burke (1729-1797) describes it, "Manners are of more importance than laws. Manners are what vex or soothe, corrupt or purify, exalt or debase, barbarize or refine us, bya constant, steady, uniform, insensible operation, like that of the air we breathe in."

This word will be our building block for better community relations. If one were to listen to the buzz on the street it would not be too difficult to conclude that common courtesy is gone, that civic manners and politeness seem to be nostalgic memories and the road is just one more place where politeness and respect for others is no longer required. Many express the opinion that traffic flow has taken priority over pedestrians' safety. Conversely, drivers often feel that pedestrians are out of turn, unpredictable in their behavior, and in the way while crossing the street. It almost seems to be a general contention that many drivers, as well as pedestrians, haven't the faintest idea of proper courtesy.

I am aware that what follows may make me sound like a grumpy old man (well, at least middle-aged). My goal in writing "Traffic Talk" has and continues to be to sensitize drivers to pedestrians' rights to the road: educating pedestrians about minimizing risks; and developing columns to educate pedestrians and drivers about engineering safety countermeasures. Every movement has begun with a first step . In the case of pedestrian safety and walkability, that first step involves making a pledge to pursue the matter and the communitywide commitment that is required to create a safe and walkable environment for all pedestrians.

Let us focus on one lost example of what I have been attempting to convey, i.e., the art of lane courtesy. Lane courtesy is to put it in its simplest terms: moving to the right and allowing faster-moving traffic to pass. Americans almost uniformly ignore this cardinal rule of road civility and it's probably the biggest single reason why driving has become so unpleasant in and around cities. Indeed, anyplace where there are a lot of vehicles on the road. American's don't practice lane courtesy because it isn't taught in American driver education courses. It is usually spun out as its sound policy to occupy any lane on the freeway provided you are doing the lawfully posted speed limit. The person who refuses to budge from the left lane is convinced that they are right - and the angry line of drivers stuck behind fuming and inevitably tailgaiting as they jockey for enough space to make a move are "aggressive" and full of "road rage." In Europe it is understood that failure to yield to faster moving traffic is a hazard that can cause accidents. Strict enforcement and widespread public practice of the art of lane courtesy explains why European roads where speeds are often much higher than on U.S. interstates, have lower overall accident fatality rates.

Perhaps a grass-roots resurgence of polite driving practices could be sparked. One by one, car by car, let's all make it a point to move to the right when another car wants to pass. Let's all repeat the mantra: Enforcing the speed limit is not my job. If someone wants to get around me I will let them. It's not a difficult thing. And it would make our harried, overstressed lives just a wee bit nicer. C'mon. What do you say? Scatter the dark clouds of gloom and spread sunshine with your smile. Remember, a smile is a curved line that can straighten many problems. I will leave you with a simple little ditty: Walk smart (cross intersections defensively) and drive smart.

If you would like to add any comments, concerns or join the Village of Great Neck Plaza in achieving these goals please email me at smg4 safety@aol.com.