Kevin Endejan’s recent column about driving and merging brought laughter to the LaBrue household.

I grew up in Fresno, CA. Before graduation from high school, every student there received one year of driver education. One semester was lecture and the second semester was behind the wheel in new Chevrolets. The experience proved good drivers are made not born.

Yes, California drivers can and do pay attention. They understand the rules of the road, needing to retake the driver test every few years.

Merging onto a boulevard or freeway receives the attention and courtesy it deserves. In Fresno, if you stop at the end of the roadway ramp, you are likely to become the hood ornament on the car behind you. It’s pretty simple if you know the rules and have the skill.

Several summers ago, we drove a rental car in Norway where the onramps have large “Zipper” roadway signs that graphically demonstrate how drivers must allow the next car to merge. Then, there is a promised 100 Krona fine if you don’t obey. That certainly captured the Norwegians’ attention. All merging was textbook perfect. Maybe it would work here?

Terry LaBrue, Issaquah