Letter to the editor
With the coming of spring, we should expect to see more people walking on local roads (with no sidewalks) as well as a considerable increase in automobile traffic.
There are some common sense things that everybody should be aware of to make the interactions less stressful and less dangerous for everybody.
For pedestrians, please keep in mind the old rule about walk on the left, facing traffic. This allows you to see the oncoming traffic which is most likely to run you over, and if it’s a B.C. car you may get the licence plate number before you are flung into the ditch. For Alberta cars, you’re just out of luck! I thought everybody learned this rule in elementary school, but maybe it’s time for a refresher course.
For drivers in control of a 2,000 to 4,000 pound behemoth, you have the ultimate responsibility to ensure that nobody gets hurt out there. And you might also consider that not scaring or worrying or upsetting anybody is also your responsibility.
To be a considerate driver, please consider giving pedestrians as much space as possible when hurtling by; this could mean crossing the sacred centre line if there’s nobody coming the other way. (Pedestrians won’t report this minor infraction, I’m sure.)
If you can’t move over to the middle or the other side of the road, and you are going to pass close to the pedestrians, please slow down to something like 30 km/h to avoid raising blood pressure and road dust. This will cost you a second but you’ll likely get a cheery wave for your thoughtfulness.
Let’s all be courteous and safe out there.
Terry Curley, Invermere
