The Utah Highway Patrol frequently receives welcome assistance from the public in apprehending motorists who are driving hazardously. A spokesman for the district office at Orem says a number of drunken and reck ess drivers have been picked up on tips from motorists using CB radio and other means of communication. Possibly 85 per cent of the tips receives by the patrol are valid, the spokesman said. This kind of citizen involvement is to be applauded. But there’s another type of behavior which we don’t believe has any place on the road. We’re referring to individual drivers who attempt personally to “discipline” another motorist for some real or imagined infraction. For example: the motorist who followed a woman driver on Interstate 15, flashing high-beam headlights until she stopped to see if something was wrong with her car. According to news accounts, the man doubled his fist, used abusive language, and threatened to hit the woman because she allegedly pulled in front of him and caused him to spill his drink. Other examples have been called to our attention: One motorist “tailing” another and “sounding off” because the high-beam headlights were inadvertently on; eager speedsters yelling “Get off the road” to persons not inclined to drive as fast, etc. Certainly every motorist should drive as expertly as possible, avoid “cutting in” too soon, use the right range of headlights in every situation, drive at appropriate speeds, etc. But few drivers are perfect. Even those who get uptight at another motorist’s deficiencies just could “goof” now and then. Of course, there are cases where stopping of a fellow motorist may be warranted, if it can be done without hazard. For example, when a rock bounced from a truckload of gravel and broke a windshield, the “wronged” driver pursued the truck and lodged his complaint. In such cases, of course, the confrontations ought to be on a courteous, objective basis. In cases of honest-to-goodness violations or hazardous driving, your best bet is to report this to the patrol or another law enforcement agency, along with the license number of the offending car. Attempted “citizen arrests” are discouraged in such instances except in extreme emergency or extraordinary conditions lest the move wind up in a fight or other serious problem. When person-to-person situations are required – whether with another motorist or an officer of the law – good manners and the courtesous, even-tempered approach will go a lot further in solving the problem than an abusive, threatening attitude.