Driving in Delray and all of South Florida is always a little on the scary side. Heavy traffic and speeding are part of the problem.

Another part of the problem is a relatively new phenomena - scoff laws.

For those who are unaware, scoff laws are laws that some individuals scoff at and therefore don't heed.

If scoff laws were minor and didn't cause accidents who'd care? But they aren't.

A common scoff law in Delray and all over South Florida is:

. Running red lights – sometimes I actually count the number of people running a light.

Lately I've noticed an equally dangerous new scoff law - driving after dark without turning on headlights.

What's the deal? Are the drivers too busy talking on the phone to turn on their lights?

Apparently some drivers think of driving as just another form of Russian Roulette. A game many lose because there are always remnants in the streets left behind from new accidents.

So what are we to do?

There aren't enough police for them to be everywhere. But residents could demand action.

Cameras could be installed at intersections. That would catch “red light scoffers” and save lives – like yours and mine. Tax dollars could be diverted from projects that aren't a matter of life and death to pay for the cost.

Maybe huge fines would help too. The pleasure of driving around in the dark without headlights or speeding through a red light might be diminished if it cost big bucks.

Or we can do nothing. After all, what are the chances that one of the scoffers will involve you or your family in a serious accident?

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