Amos Johnson

Amos Johnson of Lehigh is a member of the Lee County Sheriff’s Office VOICE team and works with others in Lehigh and throughout the county.

In Lehigh Acres, Johnson says of the things he notices that motorists are not practicing correctly is the way they use their headlights.

“The Florida’s driver manual says that the Headlights are to be on from sunset to sunrise and in periods of poor visibility. It also states that parking lights are not to be used as a substitute for the headlights.

Johnson said he likes to do his part to keep the public informed about the proper ways to drive.

“Another state law says that it is illegal to use your four-way flashers while driving on the highways; they are to be used if you are in trouble on the side of the road.”

This could be one of the more troubling problems with drivers who are confused when they see people in traffic using the flashing red lights when there doesn’t seem to appear to be any problems.

“You have to pull over if you have problems and then turn on the flashers,” Johnson reiterated.

He said many drivers in the Lehigh area have problems with the new traffic circles, otherwise known as “round-abouts.” There are two in Lehigh one on 23rd St. and another on Beth Stacey Blvd., and more are planned.

“Motorists must get used to them and the many more to come. In Europe they work very well, increasing the traffic flow through intersections.

“There are no stop signs in the round-about circle, just yield signs. And, you only to yield to the vehicles in the intersection coming from your left.

“It would be a big help if every drive would use their turn signal to indicate to others what they intended to do,”?he said.

“If you know that you are going to the right (first exit), approach the roundabout with your right turn signal flashing. If you are going to continue straight through (second exit), no turn signal is used.

“And if you intend to go off to the left (third exit), you should approach the circle with your left turn signal flashing.

Johnson says too many drivers fail to use signals correctly anyway.

“You know where you are going; so, why not, as a courtesy, let the other drivers around you know in order to help prevent crashes,” he said.

Drives who are going to make left turns should always use their signals. When they don’t, it causes confusion with other motorists on the roads.

The VOICE officers who volunteer to work with the Lee County Sheriff’s Office have several other responsibilities, too.

They monitor the disabled parking spots in Lehigh where a heavy fine can be levied against the owner of the car if she or he does not use a cardboard blue hanger, provided by the county at its Tax Collector’s Offices, on their mirror or have handicapped licensed plates.

They help in traffic crashes, often helping to handle traffic around a mishap.

It is something that Johnson says he and his other VOICE officers enjoy doing.

“We’re here to help the people to drive correctly in an attempt to keep motorists from having accidents and not obeying the laws on the books,” he said.