Much training and information about crime and arrests are given to our police.

However, not much information is taught to the general public, particularly when it comes to what to do at a simple traffic pullover.

The police pullover may be for simple reasons, such as rate of speed, not stopping fully at a stop sign or light, a taillight out or other non-violent reasons.

The driver of the vehicle must know what to expect and how to react to the police questions.

My elderly friends and I simply did not know, nor ever learned, the answers to the following procedures, once you are pulled over:

No. 1: Do not open your driver-side or passenger-side doors.

No. 2: Put both your hands on the steering wheel.

No. 3: Ask permission to carefully open your purse, or glove compartment, to show your driver’s license.

No. 4: Speak slowly, and act slowly and respectfully, as you follow the officer’s directions.

Perhaps a solution to this citizen information problem is to print 5- by 7-inch cards with this information (or other important information) to be distributed to schools, adult centers, libraries and post offices. The cards should be in large-print format with only four sentences and in English on one side and Spanish on the other.

Hearing- or speech-impaired drivers should have an ID card with them at all times to hand to the police.

A citizen’s innocent reactions in not knowing these procedures and what to do could result in sending the wrong message to the well-meaning and well-trained police officer.

Susan Scheib Przybylek,

Buffalo Township