Straight Talk: Traffic safety and Retreat etiquette Published Oct. 28, 2010 By Col. Stacy L. Yike 66th Air Base Group commander HANSCOM AIR FORCE BASE, Mass. -- A comment during the town hall meeting: It is hard to see oncoming traffic at the intersection of Scott and Kelly. Response: The Traffic Safety Council convened last week and determined that the bush has indeed grown too large to allow for proper visibility. The Civil Engineering Division will remove the bush at the intersection to allow better visibility. Thanks for letting us know about this trouble spot. Question: I know if I'm driving on base in the evening when retreat plays, I stop my car and wait until it's finished. Last week I was leaving the base through the gate next to the Lincoln Lab parking garage and, just as I drove through the gate, retreat began. I was off Hanscom, and on Lincoln Lab property, but could still clearly hear retreat. Should I have stopped and waited while retreat played? Response: Proper etiquette for Retreat can be found in AFI 34-1201, paragraph 2.21, which states, "...If in a vehicle during Reveille or Retreat, pull the car to the side of the road and stop. All occupants sit quietly at attention until the last note of the music has played." This applies when you are on the installation. While on Lincoln Lab property, please use discretion at the safety of other drivers when pulling over to pay respect, and ensure you are clearly out of the way in order not to block traffic for those Lincoln Lab personnel unfamiliar with Retreat etiquette. I hope everyone has a safe and fun Halloween weekend. Base trick-or-treating will occur Sunday from 6 to 8 p.m., so pull out those jack-o-lanterns and get ready for the fun!