We All Have To Take Responsibility For Our Driving
The end of 2013 ,and the start of 2014, can only be described as tragic, when you think about the carnage that has happened on our highways over the past several weeks. Wednesday's crash near Moose Lake even more heart wrenching as two children, one just 3, the other 6, lost their lives.
Some will point the finger of blame at the road conditions or the fact that in many cases large transport trucks have been involved . Some will blame the road maintenance people and some may even blame the police for not being out on the roads more , but the bottom line is this, human error is to blame.
As drivers, we are driving beyond our own expertise and the capabilities of our vehicles.
There seems to be some false sense of security in believing we will be spared being involved in a serious crash because we are better drivers than those who have died , or those who have been seriously injured.
Look around you , has your driving created a risk for not only you but the people also using the highway in recent weeks? Be honest with yourself.
We do know that the weather conditions , a freeze thaw situation, has given rise to deplorable driving conditions, but we have failed to take heed.
To be sure there will be all sorts of blame heaped on the other guy , but think about it for a moment.
Of course there are more heavy vehicles on our highways, that is not about to change, do we need to drive with regard to that fact? Of course we do. Can we blame the road maintenance people? Of course we can, but think about it , if the road conditions are such that you have to drive at a safe speed, is it the fault of the person driving the plow truck , or should you be taking extra precaution? . Is it the fault of the RCMP that you have decided that in your mind you can drive at a speed that you say you have care and control over your vehicle , or should it be their responsibility to monitor each and every vehicle?
Indeed there have been a host of problems on our highways, but until we, the drivers, come to realize that we are not invincible the carnage will continue.
I'm Meisner and that's one man's opinion.
Comments
I agree Ben. It is a greaet story. Those of us who drive PROPERLY will continue to do so…those who don’t , WON’T….andthen when something happens they will be trying to blame everything and everyone but themselves for the choices they had made.
-the speeders will speed
-the impaired drivers will drive impaired…
-the distracted drivers will drive distracted
and if they get caught it will be the police officers fault for giving them the ticket or catching them… #*&^% police
It is Friday… have a good day all and a wonerful weekend… hopefully we can all make it through with good drivers…driving well.
There is definitely a point where poor road maintenance could be a material contributing factor to accidents (and that has to be a consideration), but I would also agree that people do need to learn to drive to the conditions.
It’s as though some people believe that the roads should be in such a condition that travelling the maximum speed limit can ALWAYS be possible. This just isn’t the case, nor is it reasonable, and people need to recognize that.
I should add that it isn’t just winter conditions. Heck, I’ve been stuck in rain storms that resulted in cars being pulled over on the side of the road because you couldn’t see 10 feet in front of you if you were in motion.
Unfortunately, it’s one of those things where 99 people out of 100 could drive perfectly suitable for the conditions, but then you get that 1 person who doesn’t and they cause havoc for the other 99.
I personally think that speed limits should be reduced for certain areas that are deemed to be “high risk” during winter months. It won’t solve every problem, but if something does go wrong, the consequences I suspect could be much less severe if you are doing 70-80 as opposed to 100-110.
Be safe folks!
Some people won’t drive in the winter. I respect their decision but then they drive in the summer? A lot of people can’t even keep their vehicles on the road in the summertime.
Seems their overall driving should be closely looked at. The worst part is that they endanger everyone else on the roads. I think we are ‘way too easy on repeat violators. We should be instituting retraining through an approved driving school for high points drivers and anyone who gets a driving suspension, yes, including going through the graduated licensing procedure again. This may cause people to realise that driving is a privilege instead of a right.
Maybe even a psychological test to assess their feelings of personal responsibility.
NMG…good point, weather can be a contributing factor to problems on the road…No contest!… but I think we are talking about teh everyday yokel on the road on normal( if we have such things) days.
Good idea Give…but we will never see it as there are too many bleading hearts out there that will stand up for those people, claiming hardships etc… and yet they created those problesm on themselves…..no one seems to have to be responsible for their own actions anymore…WHY?
Mommy taking away your lollipop when your were 3 doesn’t give you the right to be stupid on the road,or anywhere else for that matter.
Those jerks with 4×4’s who think that just because they can spin out in front of you throwing gravel and snow all over your vehicle and beat you to the next stop light, seem to figure they can also stop faster than we can…
….WRONG ANSWER…..
I’ve driven highway 97 south in the winter lots of times, but am unfamiliar with highway 16, either west or east, and it is on 16 that most of these accidents seem to be occurring this year. Is it possible that some or most of these MVA’s are the result of rapidly changing road conditions? I know on 97 south that you can be driving on clear, dry pavement and come around a corner to find pack ice, which can be deadly if you aren’t prepared for it.
Take responsibility? Are you serious? That’s not the ideal under which the past couple of generations have been raised. We’ve raised a bunch of people with the belief that everything is someone else’s responsibility; society will address your every need and want.
There are many factors contributing to accidents as listed by those above.
We now have studies that indicate daydreaming while driving causes as many accidents, and talking on the phone. How do you guard against **daydreaming**
We have many more people on the road, who have little or no expertise in driving and handling a car under bad driving conditions.
Most cars are very light, and people drive them very fast, however they do not have a good **feel** how to control the car when things start to happen. I suspect that a lot of our truck drivers have less skills than necessary also.
Personally I think that a lot of people do not consider driving as being a responsibility, and think of it being a right. Much like the right to smoke, drink, and generally do what the hell ever you please, and not worry about the consequences. This type of attitude puts everyone on the roads at risk.
We need to take a more mature approach to driving.
I think there are a lot of lousy drivers in and around Prince George. Merging is quite foreign to many of them. We need a multi-million dollar simulator, similar to jet pilot training, where at the 5 year drivers license renewal time, drivers should be required to retest..and be challenged by lots of scenarios. Many would fail..and so they should. Our roads would be safer.
Absolutely right Ben (and everyone). These incidents are tragic and completely preventable.
Unfortunatety, there are lots of people who think nothing is their own responsibility and these ‘accidents’ will continue to occur.
Everyone is talking about the accidents this winter, and although some of them could certainly have road conditions as a contributing factor, the fact remains that the same people who would cross the line and crash headlong into a semi in winter are the same type of drivers who did it all summer and fall as well. I seem to remember a higher than usual fatality rate during the summer/fall as well.
Thanks Ben, my feelings exactly!
I think highway speed signs should be digital, therefore changeable depending on the road conditions. I know this won’t stop those that think they are invincible, but perhaps for everyone else, it would be a good indication of the highway conditions.
Bang on!!! I understand they are digital in the UK around London to control traffic flow. Reducing the speed as traffic gets heavier has the effect of reducing the stop-go effect which reduces accidents, increases fuel efficiency and decreases the time it takes to get to a destination.
They put in an overhead reader board in a micro climate area just to the north of Quesnel which is subject to more precipitation just for that purpose. The problem is that it is not an enforceable traffic sign.
If they were to put up what I assume would be less expensive signs that are positioned the same way as speed limit signs and are exactly that, enforceable speed limits, it should be a different story.
Posted by: kiplett on January 10 2014 9:50 AM
I think highway speed signs should be digital, therefore changeable depending on the road conditions. I know this won’t stop those that think they are invincible, but perhaps for everyone else, it would be a good indication of the highway conditions.
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People can’t even comprehend the “Keep Right Except To Pass” signs; you can’t expect them to understand a speed limit sign that changes.
Our current (and past) road conditions dictate to the drivers that they must pay attention at ALL TIMES. These roads aren’t allowing for any little slip-ups. You catch the edge of one of the ruts or slush and you run the real risk of losing control.
PAY ATTENTION AT ALL TIMES to your driving, especially on the highways and ANTICIPATE THE WORSE CASE SCENARIO e.g. ice or slush around the next corner even though you’ve been driving on dry roads.
There are too many people taking driving for granted and heading out in conditions when their vehicle and/or ability says they should stay home.
JohnnyBelt, I agree. I have to say though that when we had really bad weather/roads before Christmas, I was impressed by the number of people who DIDN’T venture out onto the roads. Smart.
Posted by: gus on January 10 2014 9:57 AM
Bang on!!! I understand they are digital in the UK around London to control traffic flow
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They also have synchronized lights and cameras all over the place. BC has how many km of highways compared to jolly ol’ England? If anything they would implement it down in the lower mainland where the bulk of traffic is, doesn’t help those trying to drive east where white-out conditions used to be the norm and many a traveler had to turn back or walk in front of the vehicle to make sure they were on the road – but no-one remembers those days
Driving your car will probably be the most dangerous thing you do today. Behave accordingly!
“I was impressed by the number of people who DIDN’T venture out onto the roads.”
Just think, they were the GOOD drivers!!!!
That left all the POOR drivers to play bumpercars …..
;-)
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