Image: CFJC Today / File

By Mel Rothenburger

Armchair Mayor

ROTHENBURGER: We think other drivers are terrible but we should look in the mirror

Sep 28, 2023 | 4:53 AM

DRIVERS ARE GETTING worse. That’s the hardly surprising opinion expressed by Canadians in a new poll.

Research Co. released results showing we think drivers in our own towns are worse than they were five years ago. Though it was to be expected that we have low regard for each other as drivers, it revealed some interesting details of what we think others are doing wrong.

In the past month, for example, almost three-in-five Canadians recall seeing a driver fail to signal when turning.

Half recently saw a car taking up two or more spots in a parking lot. Forty-five per cent saw other drivers failing to stop at an intersection.

Sound Off

SOUND OFF: Culturally appropriate food goes beyond the ingredients on a plate

13h ago

Two and Out

PETERS: Whether building up or tearing down, Kamloops is what you make it

Dec 13, 2024

Sound Off

SOUND OFF: How to reduce food waste in Kamloops during the festive season

Dec 13, 2024

A third witnessed drivers turning right or left from an incorrect lane, or a near-collision.

All of those numbers are a big under-estimate, if you ask me. Any one of those situations can be observed on the streets of Kamloops any day of the week, let alone in a month. Each time we get in our vehicles, we face the very real possibility that somebody else will cause an accident that could involve us.

The worst habit of all among Kamloops drivers is ignoring red lights. Instead of regarding an amber light as an alert not to proceed through an intersection, typical Tournament Capital speedsters — always in a hurry to shave a few seconds off a trip — take it as a reason to hit the gas pedal.

But some don’t even speed up — they simply roll through the intersection at normal speed after the light has turned. It’s not unusual to see two or three cars do it at one red light.

And, by the way, 59 per cent blame poor driving on specific groups. Young drivers are considered the worst, followed by the “elderly.”

One thing the poll didn’t do was to ask drivers to look in the mirror on driving habits. Now that would be interesting.

I’m Mel Rothenburger, the Armchair Mayor.

Mel Rothenburger is a regular contributor to CFJC Today, publishes the ArmchairMayor.ca opinion website, and is a recipient of the Jack Webster Foundation Lifetime Achievement Award. He has served as mayor of Kamloops, school board chair and TNRD director, and is a retired daily newspaper editor. He can be reached at mrothenburger@armchairmayor.ca.

—

Editor’s Note: This opinion piece reflects the views of its author, and does not necessarily represent the views of CFJC Today or Pattison Media.