Cars should be cheaper in Utah.
Before Covid-19, I spent some time in Texas. I had never been to Texas before. During the long hours of driving south to Corpus Christi, I realized I was now operating in another country with different laws and behaviors. Road signs highlight the hefty fines for littering the highways and blocking the outer lanes when driving. People were courteous and mainly kept within the speed limits. They obeyed the road signs. There was one exception; driving through San Antonio. That was crazy. Everywhere else, it was awesome. I assume that the many police cars and highway patrol vehicles parked everywhere you drive may have something to do with that. Still, people acted politely as they spoke, even calling me 'Sir' everywhere I went.
My good friend for many years, Bob Garff, was CEO of Ken Garff Motors in Utah. He recently retired, and to my shock, he was one of the first people to die from the coronavirus in Utah. Bob had served his church diligently, even serving in England for three years. He served the state politically also—a man well respected throughout the West. We met while he was in England and continued our friendship when I immigrated and attended graduate school at BYU. Driving in Texas reminded me of when we jokingly spoke about my experience driving in Utah compared to driving in Europe.
Utah should have the cheapest cars in the USA. All seatbelts should be removed, especially children's belts and seats because no one uses them. You are just as likely to see small children standing anywhere they wish as you would seeing people and dogs hanging in the truck beds at 75 mph. Of course, you can't blame the mothers, who are busy on their cell phones and obviously can't mind the children. Also, turn signals on cars should be removed for the same reason. Almost nobody uses them, either. If they do, it is usually after they have turned or changed lanes. Removing these useless and expensive items from the cars would mean lower prices! Great idea, right? For other reasons, the cost of owning a car or truck in Utah is also much lower for many people. For example, my neighbor has a registration tag on the back of his vehicle. The only problem is it's seven years out of date. Most people are happy to pay a fine if they are ever caught. As for insurance, forget about it. Whenever I have chatted with various drivers over the years, it seems they believe, "this is America, and I can do what I want." I am guessing that attitude goes out of the window if they are ever robbed. Don't ask too much; as usual, you will be informed it's none of your business. It is. I end up paying their missing taxes. But I have to remember they can do what they wish. I wonder why we need police if everyone can do what they want. Oh yes, I forgot unless anything happens to them, then they need the law.
On every parking lot in Utah, you will see that parking skills are frequently non-existent. Especially with a big truck, my saying is, "Yep, there he is, I got a big truck, so I can park how the hell I want, even if it takes three spaces." Another extension of the "I can do what I want" is seen on every two-lane or three-lane highway. Drivers take a lane irrespective of which one it is, and it becomes theirs and theirs only. Suppose you wish to pass; good luck because no one is interested in moving over. Maybe the lack of police cars and highway patrol suggests that Utah drivers can do as they wish. People drive in Utah in the same way as their political views. The word "I" is heard much more than "We." This is a "Me" society, not a "We" society. I love American individualism. It should not have a place on public roads, that's all. That should be for Daytona or the Brick Yard only!
