Off the beaten path

Ammunition to make sales

Vehicle passengers real dummies

Drivers in Auckland, New Zealand's largest city, are recruiting fake passengers to help them skirt carpool lane rules. Drivers aiming to travel in three-occupant or more designated lanes have turned to inflatable dolls, mannequins and even dogs dressed as children to try and fool police and fellow drivers into thinking they meet the lanes' requirements. Driving with dummies — in more ways than one.

Study: helmets may lead to injury

Wearing a helmet might actually lead to more bicycle riders getting hit by vehicles, according to a recent study conducted by Ian Walker, professor at the University of Bath in England. Walker found that bike riders wearing helmets saw drivers come almost 3.5 inches closer when passing than those riders without head protection. So your head is safer with a helmet on. As for your body and bicycle, they are on their own.

Letters to the editor

Dear Editor, Why is drilling for new oil in our country "going off half cocked?" (Larry Silvey's "The Faking of a President" column in the September issue of Aftermarket Business.) It seems it would be less expensive, create new jobs and give us control of our own resources, making us not so dependent on foreign suppliers. In our state, we as consumers have gone the route of conserving fuel, and now our gas tax revenue is down significantly, and the state is in trouble with not enough money to meet its budget. They are now considering raising the gasoline tax, so tell me, where did we win? You say our country needs leadership, but where do we find it? I wish they had a place on the ballot for none of the above. I feel the office of president of the United States has lost all credibility since Bill Clinton. There is no respect for the office anymore. The media, comedians, editors and talk show hosts make a mockery of it all. I cannot believe any sane individual would touch the office with a 10-foot pole. Iacocca says, "scream bloody murder — show outrage." But it does not seem like anyone hears or cares. It's the special interest groups that rule our country. Let's make the EPA leaders elected positions so they have to answer to us for their actions and policies. How do we change things? I'm screaming. Do you hear me?

Aldon Miller, Owner Performance Automotive Machine Idaho Falls, Idaho

Editor's Note: Our politicians, both Democrats and Republicans, are not offering reasoned, long-term solutions to our energy problems. Instead, they banter over contrived issues that play to the public's emotions. You ask if I hear you. I do, but you're asking the wrong person. Please vote on Nov. 4.

Larry Silvey, Group Editorial Director