Crossing the line

I have written several editorials regarding the shoddy driving habits I have witnessed in other drivers. Now that I have returned to the Sault and have had a chance to drive around a bit more, especially in these spring-like conditions, it might be time for another.

Let me start by saying that I do not believe myself to be the perfect driver, although I do consider myself a good driver. In fact, I recently had a driving instructor evaluate my driving, and she was quite satisfied with the skill I demonstrated.

Still, I know I do have some bad habits. I tend to drive between 50 and 60 km/h (whether in a 50 or 60 zone), and I do use a back-handed grip on the steering wheel when I begin a turn.

On the other hand, there are a number of good habits I have purposely cultivated over the years. For instance, I almost always indicate turns and lane changes, even in the middle of the night or on a deserted stretch of highway when there are no other vehicles around. I figure it’s just better to always signal, and then I won’t ever have to worry about getting a ticket for failing to indicate a turn or lane change.

And as an added bonus, it lets other drivers know my intentions.

Another habit I have maintained is staying, whenever possible, on my own side of the road.

Admittedly, when the roads are snow-covered or snow-packed the lane markings are not visible, and drivers rely more than ever on good sense and courtesy from each other. Sadly, good sense and courtesy are all too frequently scarce on the ground.

Just this morning I was heading to the Station Mall. As I was heading down North Street, approaching the intersection with Wellington, a grey pickup came around the corner and strayed across the yellow line and into my path. Fortunately I was already slowing for the stop sign, and was able to stop in time to prevent a collision.

I shook my head when I saw the City logo emblazoned on the door.

A few minutes later, as I am driving through the Zellers parking lot, a woman ran the stop sign and pulled out in front of me. Fortunately, again, I was already slowing, as I had intended to make a right turn there and find a parking spot.

She also stopped and, seeing that she had not only pulled out in front of me but had also crossed into the oncoming lane to begin her left turn in the first place, she reversed and repositioned her vehicle in the appropriate lane. (I was prepared to wave her on, as I could not get by.)

I’ve mentioned this before, but it bears mentioning again: when making a left turn, please do not cut the apex of the corner. By that I mean that you need to make a turn from your lane on one street to your lane on the next, without crossing into the oncoming lane.

While this manoeuvre works really well on a race track, where everyone is going the same direction at (usually) about the same speed, when vehicles are approaching from the opposite direction, it’s just downright dangerous!

Especially in the winter, when snow banks prevent drivers from seeing approaching vehicles until the last moment, crossing into the oncoming lane is ill-advised.

Even in the summer I have seen drivers do this, sometimes beginning their turn well before the intersection, crossing fully into the oncoming lane, and usually traveling at too high a rate of speed.

One problem that this presents, other than the possibility of hitting an oncoming vehicle, is that executing an avoidance manoeuvre when there is an oncoming vehicle approaching becomes more difficult.

Signal your turns, slow down, and stay in your lane.

Another similar problem is what to do when there is an obstacle in your lane. Many people seem to operate under the “whoever gets there first” rule, which is incorrect.

If there is an obstacle in your lane – a pothole, a parked vehicle, a pedestrian, a cyclist – and you will have to cross the centre line to safely avoid this obstacle, you may only do so when the way is clear.

If there is a vehicle approaching in the oncoming lane it has the right of way! You will need to slow and/or stop, wait for the oncoming vehicle(s) to pass, and then proceed only when the other lane is clear.

In other words, treat the situation as though there was a YIELD sign for your lane.

btw… YIELD and MERGE are not the same. Yield means wait until it is clear; Merge means to courteously take turns, while heading in the same direction.

I noticed that there was very little outrage posted in the News Response forum following the reports of two separate collisions at the same intersection within a few hours of each other. And yet, when even one collision occurs on Carmen’s Way the responses come fast and furious.

The fact is that most collisions occur because at least one of the drivers is not paying attention, or fails to follow the rules of the road.

Look at the report for the first collision at McNabb and Gt Northern – one driver charged with running the red light, another driver charged with failing to scrape the frost from the windshield.

Driving is not a difficult task, but it is one that carries a high degree of personal responsibility. When one thinks about it, often the only thing preventing head-on collisions is having blind faith that the other drivers will stay on their side of a narrow painted stripe on the roadway.

Sometimes my faith is sorely challenged.

But… that’s just my opinion.


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