Wireless sensors buried under roads around Sarasota County reveal that traffic in these parts is most congested in February and March, when the snowbirds flock in from the North.

Leave it to government to tell us what we already know, and spend money doing it.

Stay tuned for studies in which similar strategically placed sensors will reveal that the darkest part of the day comes at night and that the hottest part of the year falls during July, August and September.

We are all well aware of the yearly traffic crunch. We see it every day on the way to and from work and during work when we lose a coin toss and have to leave the office to pick up lunch.

Fortunately, although local government can do nothing about night and day, hot and cold, it can do something about driving habits. One approach calls for educating snowbirds about the road rules that might differ from what they know back home.

Rumor has it that Sarasota traffic engineers are working on a tip sheet to be distributed at participating restaurants during early-bird specials. A draft copy has made its way to the newsroom.

Here are the highlights:

Turn signals. These handy tools, often located on an arm jutting from the steering column, can help indicate your intentions to other drivers. Please use with discretion. For instance, if you do not intend to turn within 200 feet or so, there is no need to apply the turn signal. If you find on a regular basis that you cannot hear the clicking sound of the signal or see the indicator light flashing, you might want to reassess your ability to drive. See your doctor for details.

Entering traffic from a side street. With some foresight, this challenging maneuver does not have to stop traffic dead. Simply look right and left and take into account the speed of the oncoming cars. If vehicles seem to be traveling at 45 mph, do not wait until the last possible second to merge into traffic at a snail's pace.

Letting cars into traffic from a side street. Use a little common sense here. If 38 cars are lined up behind you moving at the posted speed limit, please do not stop to let one car pull into your lane from a side street. Simply proceed at the prevailing speed and allow the lone merger to follow the suggestion outlined above.

The passing lane. On four-lane roads in Florida, the left lane is generally reserved for faster drivers. Sightseers and other slowbies should stick to the right lane unless passing even slower drivers. We've spent a lot of money building and widening roads to keep traffic moving. Please do not clog up the passing lanes. And by the way, check your turn signal. You've probably left it on from your last lane change.

The one-finger salute. If you have encountered this spirited communication, it's probably not from a University of Florida Gators fan celebrating the team's No. 1 ranking. More likely, it's an indication you have failed to heed one of these helpful tips.

Keep them handy and have a nice stay in the Sunshine State.

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