On Monday morning, while driving to a Yarmouth car dealership to have a defective fob replaced, I observed several motorists who were not following a common courtesy for drivers.

I believe, somewhere in the state driver’s manual, there is a stated rule that “motorists shall use their headlights and taillights in rain and snow when those forms of precipitation are falling heavily enough to require the vehicle’s windshield wipers being operated, for better visibility, for yourself and other drivers.”

Headlights and taillights should also be turned on when thick fog is present, as was the condition Monday morning, to provide better visibility for you and so that other drivers are seen – I believe that is known as defensive driving.

Monday morning’s fast-rising temperature and melting snowpack resulted in a fog at eye level, a very dangerous condition along with icy road surfaces.

Driving north to Yarmouth on Interstate 295 at 10 a.m., I saw a black and white Brunswick Police Department cruiser pass me without any lights on at all. An 18-wheel tractor-trailer, also going north, had no headlights or parking lights on, but the rear trailer lights were on.

I-295 is notorious for accidents of all kinds and for all reasons. The most common driver courtesy on such a high-speed highway in fog should be to have your headlights and taillights in operating condition and turned on!

Dennis Marrotte

Westbrook