Tuesday May 18, 2004
Today I was out of my den of annoyance very briefly. Thrice to be exact. The last two outings were in the late afternoon and were remarkable because of the many emergency vehicles that were attempting to go places while contending with Kingstonian drivers, who are apparently generally unaware of this section of Ontario's Highway Traffic Act. I think the expectation is the same all over Canada and the US actually.
I don't have too many pet peeves, but this might be the biggest one. Practice emergency vehicle drills like fire drills should be staged randomly and every single driver who does not get out of the way should have their license suspended for a whole year. No appeals. No negotiations. Move it or lose it.
One driver who was in the right lane of a four lane road with me in the left lane actually moved toward me after I had moved toward the curb closest to me. That's right: they headed into the middle of the road, then got a little smarter and just stopped where they were, despite the empty turn lane on the right. I'm thinking uncertainty led them to the wrong-headed conclusion that the rule must be "move to the left" since that's where I was going. Still no excuse, IMO.
Thankfully, the ambulance that was approaching from behind got by us just fine anyway but I had a real urge to follow and, after she'd stopped somewhere ask the question with which all such traffic incompetents should be confronted: If that vehicle was heading to your house how many people would you want doing what you just did along the way?
Seconds Can Save Someone You Love
0) { ?>