Transportation and Public Works

Safety Belts Sept. 17, 2004

September 17, 2004
Seatbelts No Substitute for Sanity On Island Roads
Letter to the Editor, The Guardian

Reckless driving is virtually the norm here and police aren't stopping it.

Editor:
Recently published statistics indicate 16 mortalities so far on Island roads this year, higher than in previous years. As a consequence the police will be enforcing seatbelt legislation.

I would respectfully submit the police could do better by being more vigilant regarding the public's driving habits, particularly those that are dangerous.

If the overall number of accidents is reduced, then it follows the death rate will diminish, regardless of whether or not seatbelts are in use.

I have observed on numerous occasions drivers overtaking others on double yellow lines at speeds approaching suicidal, drivers turning without indicating, drivers driving at night without lights, disregarding red lights and stop signs, tailgating, throwing out of cars and other stupidities that one has to question the mentality of the drivers involved.

In my opinion it is high time everyone was given an "intelligence test" before being permitted to sit behind a wheel, let alone take a vehicle on public roads.

I live on a bend where advisory speed limit is 50 kph. Cars, trucks, farm vehicles carrying toxic chemicals, snow-plows, even school busses laden with children, regularly hurtle around the corner as if they were at the Indianapolis or Daytona Beach, seemingly obvious of what might be round that corner.

On one occasion a laden manure truck almost struck a fuel tanker, leaving tire marks on the pavement 20 yards long. That would have been some environmental disaster.

One young fellow I'm told likes to take the bend as fast as he can cause he likes "driving fast round bends."

Seatbelts are good things to have and to use, but they are no substitute for sane and safe driving.

Where are the police on this? Carrying out roadside checks for seat belt and license violations!

This reduces their efforts to mere revenue raising. The police should be more than flunkies of the cash strapped treasury.

I am sure that on occasions a police officer on patrol will pull a driver over for bad driving, but regrettably I have yet to witness such an event.

Graham Harris,
Albany