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Driving offenses far too abundant

Our dangerous and congested highway is no place to act foolishly
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Vehicle flipped upside down in the crash scene outside Ladysmith. (Photo submitted)

The tragic death of Ladysmith’s Katie Blogg in that horrific car crash outside Ladysmith Aug. 29 is going to resonate throughout our communities for a long time to come.

Prevention of these types of incidents that result in the loss of innocent lives must be the primary concern. Once and for all, that means the severity of penalties for careless, impaired and distracted drivers has to increase dramatically.

No more slaps on the wrist will suffice in the poll of public opinion. The time has come to get serious about lengthy driving prohibitions and jail sentences stemming from vehicle crashes.

Many perpetrators are repeat offenders, either for driving offences or other matters. We can’t keep letting these people off without a huge deterrent for the sake of public safety.

Let’s face it, all of us already face a huge risk every time we venture onto the Trans Canada Highway on the Island. It is a dangerous stretch of road, particularly at all the signalled intersections where drivers routinely run red lights, dart in and out of traffic in congested situations and generally practice meagre driving habits.

All of us are guilty certainly of some offense from impatience or just plain lack of attention so this might be cause for reflection on everybody’s part. Look in the mirror and think seriously about what you can do when you’re behind the wheel for your own safety and that of the public.

The situation on the highway seems particularly terrible now. Perhaps fueled by pandemic insanity, so many people are driving like idiots, it’s mind-boggling.

Where does everyone think they’re going? The volume of traffic on the Island is increasing all the time and it’s not going away just to clear a lane for you.

The country side roads of the area are less congested, but that just makes people drive faster. Most of the posted speed limits are 50 or 60 kilometres per hour and yet it’s not unusual to see the majority of the traffic well in excess of that in the 80-90 range.

And, of course, the call for legalizing more drugs will really help the situation. That’s all we need is additional people on the roads in an even foggier state of mind.

Our fate, unfortunately, is in everyone’s hands.



Don Bodger

About the Author: Don Bodger

I've been a part of the newspaper industry since 1980 when I began on a part-time basis covering sports for the Ladysmith-Chemainus Chronicle.
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