Myra Miller column

On my soap box again ... one of my pet peeves is noise pollution. Top of the list is what some call music that comes from passing vehicles.

Boom-boom boxes is what I like to call them. Why do people play their choice of music SOOOO LOUDDDD? Sometimes at home and at work our windows and walls literally start to vibrate.

Can these people hear well? Probably not. Since their amplifier is turned up to the maximum, I am sure they cannot hear anything else.

Noise pollution is everywhere though. It is heard where sports are played. Some venues call for muted voices out of common courtesy because concentration is intense. Tennis is an example. Again, be considerate and respectful of others.

Noise nearby your home, whether it be the boom-boom of cars, or the yapp-yapping of dogs in the wee morning hours, or neighbors acting foolish by yelling their heads off is distracting. I guess the list can go on.

Noise goes along with motorcycles. I don’t know much about the makes and models of motorcyles, but I do believe that some are unnecessarily way too loud. I guess they like it that way. Are there noise regulations on vehicles and motorcyclists? I don’t know. Please tell me.

Not too long ago, I witnessed a motorcyclist traveling near my home and what I saw next really got to me, made me mad. He or she (probably a he) did a wheelie! This occurred on one of Eunice’s busiest streets. What if he would have caused an accident with another vehicle or even caused himself harm? I venture to guess he was not thinking of his possible consequences during his “fun” motorcycle stunt.

Other pet peeves -- people using cell phones and text messaging while driving.

I can understand if you HAVE to use your cell phone, but what I am talking about is excessive use of cell phones, as if the device is plugged into your ear or apart of your ear.

I know you cannot drive defensively and be absolutely alert while talking constantly on a cell phone.

If I have an incoming call I try my best to pull off to the side and if I cannot I limit my call to one minute, telling the other person I will call back.

I recently had to avoid a possible wreck when the car ahead of me was driving at a snail’s pace and then suddenly braked and slowly turned off a side street using no signal.

Thank goodness I was paying attention, but I became so aggravated that I followed her for a short piece and what I discovered made me more mad - she was text messaging with no clue about traffic around her! Her head was actually down looking at her phone and she was still driving.

Drive safely.

Accent editor Myra Miller can be reached at myraenews@bellsouth.net