Dear Editor,

I have noticed a recurring trend in articles concerning road safety in Lakewood: the tendency to immediately blame young drivers and yeshiva bochurim for local accidents. I find this demographic-specific blame to be disproportionate and often misplaced.

While young drivers may be less experienced, they are certainly not the only cause of safety concerns on our roads. We must also consider the prevalence of distracted driving due to smartphone use, hurried drivers rushing to school pickups, individuals running red lights, and those who obstruct traffic by parking illegally or straddling two lanes.

Furthermore, the frequent delays when traffic lights turn green suggest that the issues are widespread and not limited to any single group.

My intention is not to claim that young drivers are without fault, but rather to emphasize that road safety is a collective responsibility. Focusing solely on one group distracts us from the poor driving habits we may all need to address.

I speak not as a young driver, but as a mother of four. My children have been driving for several years without a single accident or moving violation.

I hope we can move toward a more balanced conversation about how every driver can contribute to making our streets safer.

With wishes for all to be safe,

S.W.

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