State test score drops may have more far-reaching effects than we thought. While driving on I-95 from Hammond Street to Broadway it was quite apparent that many people cannot read.

Above the Ohio Street entrance a sign reads “left lane closed,” and the long right-lane creeping traffic started for those whose education was apparent. How-ever, every 30 seconds or so a vehicle piloted by a nonreader careened down the left lane at 60 mph oblivious of the line of crawling traffic obeying the law.

This continued until I got off at Broadway, but those unlearned were still whizzing by with the construction site nearly in view trying to squeeze in at the head of the line.

It is apparent, since reading is not an option, someone in authority needs to be located shortly before the construction site holding up the “Sorry, I didn’t know what the holdup was,” until the patient, educated obeyers were through the line rather than letting the scofflaws in. This might give the nonresidents the idea that hurtling down the highway without knowledge or common sense may have its penalties.

The same know-it-alls should also learn that the signs on the entrance to the highway reading “yield” also means them (the guy looking at the sign) not the drivers already there. The ones on the highway are not required to rush to the left lane (if it is available) so “mister didn’t learn to read” can hurtle on ahead.

Catharine K. Lebowitz

Bangor