SLOW DRIVERS JUST AS DANGEROUS AS THE FAST ONES
Posted on 20 May 2009 by admin
OSOYOOS TIMES-May 20, 2009
Overhearing more than one comment about speed traps and police blitzes on Osoyoos’s roadways during the long weekend brought up a curious question:
Were the drivers being ticketed for going too fast or too slow?
While it’s great that police were out in force to nail speeders, one has to wonder if the same commitment to busting unsafe drivers could be given not only to those who drive dangerously over the speed limit, but those who drive under it.
Most locals know that driving along Hwy. 97 between Osoyoos and Okanagan Falls can be a tedious adventure, especially as the summer tourist season swings into full gear, as motorists meander the two-lane highway, often driving way under posted limits.
Slow driving is just as dangerous as fast driving as it forces many people to attempt passing at unsafe spots along the road.
And those who can’t pass may develop a nasty case of road rage that can lead to actions that are even more unsafe or possibly some kind of retribution against the driver causing the slowdown.
Aside from the danger factor, slow driving can prevent people from getting to meetings or appointments on time and can delay the delivery of goods up and down the valley.
This issue even came up as a topic of discussion during the provincial election when it was mentioned at an all-candidates forum in Osoyoos that the average speed along Hwy. 97 in the summer is 67 kilometres an hour.
All four local candidates said the road needs more passing lanes.
Other options could include imposing minimum speed limits as they do on major highways in Quebec, or following the example of some states in the U.S. and creating pull-off sections where slower drivers can get out of the way and let the line-up of vehicles pass.
If you don’t get out of the way, you’re eligible to get a ticket.
Until a solution is put into place, all of us drivers who enjoy and require a good of flow of traffic have a suggestion: please obey the speed limit in both directions— don’t speed and don’t go too slow.
What about adding passing pull outs like along the National Parks in the USA. These are pull out for trucks hauling trailers. It works great. The catch is trainging people to use them!
June 22, 2009.
I’m driving home from Penticton, BC to Osoyoos, BC today and the damndest thing happened after leaving Oliver, BC?
There was a police car (one car) in front of me, and in front of her was someone driving 50km/hr in an 80km zone…?
If I drive over the speed limit I will get a ticket for speeding. So why doesn’t someone driving 30km under speed limit not get ticketed for obstructing traffic (holding up traffic which causes road rage? There was a pile of cars behind them including a police car who should of at least pulled them over for driving to slow, and let everyone else pass & drive the speed limit… Hypocrates!!!
I understand to drive slower in bad weather, but the roads were bare… sometimes I really don’t understand our justice system- the cop was right there, but she did nothing about it!
Suggestion: start recording the license plate, time, date and place of slow driver. Submit to the RCMP and town council OFTEN. This needs to be resolved before more people are hurt/killed on the WORST section of highway 97 anywhere!!
In some Northwestern US states, it’s illegal to allow more than 6 cars to back up behind you!!
I think there should be more road signs that state that it is a 80 zone, there’s only one when leaving Osoyoos and only one when leaving Oliver.
And those who can’t pass may develop a nasty case
of road rage that can lead to actions that are even
more unsafe or possibly some kind of retribution
against the driver causing the slowdown.
Um. Those thoughts are coming out of your head.
Perhaps you should pull over and have a think about that. Passing unsafely is your choice.
Hwy 97 is a meandering single lane hwy with cyclists and pedestrians on the shoulder. There is a high proportion of retired residents and recreational vehicles in the summer. Deal with it.
I’m in favor of lowering the speed limit where it makes sense and providing one passing area between Osoyoos and Oliver.
I am in my 40s and drive my small car below the speed limit all the time. I enjoy the view and often take black sage road to oliver and the right side of the lake on the way to penticton. I`m in bliss traveling through that environment.
When I sense that the person behind me is tail gating has some road rage. I`ll drive even slower. I feel sorry for them. They can either decide to evolve or their rage will transport them to bliss through the grill of an oncoming semi.