Guelph Today received the following letter urging drivers to slow down and not be so aggressive behind the wheel.
Hey Guelph, I think we need to talk. We’re a friendly city. We’re kind, we’re charitable and we help our neighbours. However, when we’re behind the wheel, this seems to disappear and our worst traits take over.
Way too many of us, I’d even say the majority of us, drive far too quickly and aggressively. 10 km/h over is the minimum, we fly around corners like they’re on-ramps and rushing yellows is a sport. Not you? Are you sure? I try my best to drive the limit and I feel like I’m part of a small minority doing so. Have you ever tried it? It’s not for the faint of heart!
Almost immediately you’ll find someone driving right up to your bumper as the universal signal for “hurry up or get outta my way!” I’m far from perfect, I catch myself doing what most of us do when they see a yellow, but I really do try. I think our city would be better if more of us did the same.
It’s not easy though, is it? Our planners have long designed roads for speed and neighbourhoods for cars. Our last council timidly reduced speeds in residential areas to 40 km/h which we know means 50 km/h to most of us. Our transit isn’t frequent enough to compete with our cars. Our painted bike lanes don’t protect or encourage cycling. Our police don’t seem equipped for meaningful enforcement, issuing a few dozen tickets during the odd blitz when they could easily do a hundred a day to effectively change our habits.
‘Encouraging’ us to slow down clearly isn’t working.
All is not lost though. We can change and we can do better. We owe it to our kids before one of them is killed. As spring starts and our new council hits their stride, let’s take a minute to reflect, step up our game and slow the heck down!
Paul Nichols
Guelph
