Disabled Placard Placement

Years ago, I used to see children in cars who weren't properly secured in car seats: Babies held in grownups' arms, toddlers bounding around the back seat with no restraint: Scary stuff!

Then came a campaign to increase public awareness of car seats. People began using them more--and more appropriately--thanks to local police agencies, the Highway Patrol,  and even hospitals (no more leaving the hospital without a car seat for your newborn!)

I think we need a new campaign to help people understand how to use "disabled-person" placards.

See the words at the top of the placard?

"Remove from mirror before driving vehicle."

You'd think that would be obvious: "Don't drive with this big ol' thing hanging down, obscuring your vision and making you more likely to have an accident."

And yet, I can't tell you how many people I see driving with this placard hanging from their rear-view mirror.

If you give it one second of thought, why would any municipality want a bunch of people driving around with their vision obscured?

Answer: They wouldn't.

And the warning to take the placard off is printed on BOTH sides, just in case you missed it on one side.

If you know anyone who uses one of these placards--whether it's for a permanent or a temporary disability--please: Remind them to take it off the rear-view mirror before they turn on the ignition.

Thank you. That's the end of my rant.