Facebook group targets 'Bad Drivers of Middletown Delaware'

Glen Feinsilver is fed up with the drivers in Middletown who constantly cut him off, tailgate or are just generally unpleasant.

"Going into Middletown, almost every single time somebody does something stupid," the 48-year-old Odessa contractor said. "I see people doing ridiculous things."

That frustration got Feinsilver thinking last week about ways he could start a community conversation about the aggressive driving habits of folks in the Middletown-Odessa-Townsend area.

The idea gave birth to the "Bad Drivers of Middletown Delaware" Facebook group, which Feinsilver launched Dec. 16.

Feinsilver lives near Boyds Corner just north of Odessa, but drives into Middletown every day. He said he is somewhat of an expert on the subject of Middletown drivers.

Feinsilver may have just opened up a Pandora's Box. His group has grown to more than 145 members. He's heard people complaining for years and just wants them to have an outlet. 

He is encouraging people to share photos, videos and stories of any bad driving situations in the MOT area. 

"If you live in the area, you should be concerned about drivers here," Feinsilver said. "Let's all vent our frustrations and maybe it will encourage safer driving."

It didn't take long for people to start venting. Shortly after Feinsilver posted an experience he had with a truck running a red light and almost colliding with him on U.S. 301 near Home Depot, the page had its first member post.

Shawn Cameron posted about a crazy driver with a need for speed:

"Didn’t think I would have a good one so soon. Car tailgating me so close I could not see headlights. Then passed me doing about 100 mph in a 45 mph zone. Then speeding through school zone till came upon a car doing the speed limit and started swerving back and forth over the center line."

Cameron had the presence of mind to video record the car in action, which sparked further conversation about him holding his phone while driving. Turns out he was doing it hands-free.

"That's what this page is all about," Feinsilver said.

Another person posted on the page Thursday saying she just moved from Maryland where she thought those drivers had the corner on the market of bad drivers. Turns out she was wrong.

"We have the worst drivers in Middletown," Mary Fuller said. "I don't think a day goes by when someone, including 18-wheelers, run through the red light (on U.S. 301). I never pass through the light until I see if people are stopping. They drive way too fast and not safe at all. It's scary."

While Feinsilver hopes to draw attention to the seriousness of bad drivers, he also wants to have fun with the new "Bad Drivers of Middletown Delaware" group, beginning with the cover photo of an SUV sitting on the hood of a Lincoln Towncar. 

Feinsilver's latest post was a video of a man who gets out of his car during a traffic jam in Baltimore and starts dancing, to the delight of those stopped along with him.

"I want this to be lighthearted, but I also hope it encourages safe driving," he said. "We can't have a cop at every corner watching out for this kind of behavior, so maybe we can keep an eye on it and show people in the MOT area how bad it's getting through posts on this page."

Reach Jerry Smith at jsmith17@delawareonline.com. Follow him on Twitter at @JerrySmithTNJ.

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