The shortest distance between two points is, I am convinced, a Clearwater mantra. Imagine my surprise as I entered our new traffic roundabout to be nose to nose with a pickup proceeding in the opposite direction. Apparently this genius decided that the fastest way to get his north bound pickup on to the Well Grey Road was to go left in the circle in spite of clear signage to the contrary. Had I been a semi he may have become a hood ornament on a Kenworth.
If this were an isolated incident of bad driving, I would feel safer, but unfortunately it seems a bit of an epidemic here. For example, Safety Mart parking lot can be a bit of a gong show: vehicles entering the parking lot on the liquor store corner when the signage clearly designates this as a exit only again the shortest distance between two points. The traffic flow in the parking lot, as in the traffic circle is designed for predictability and therefore safety, but out of old habits or shear cursedness some of our drivers insist on imposing their adhoc, unpredictable driving style on the motoring public.
Now I’m not the perfect driver and have made my share of mistakes, but my intent is to follow the rules, as do a majority of Clearwater drivers. So to the 20 per cent of free form misbehaviours wake up and smell the coffee.
Wes Morden
Blackpool, B.C.