The respectful driver

Photo: Contributed - Antika Inen

The Respectful Driver - Fact or Fiction?

I've been reading Moving to Vision Zero: Road Safety Strategy Update and Showcase of Innovation in British Columbia and was struck by these words: 

"The Safe System Approach enables more ambitious progress by treating the road system as a product of numerous components. These components are: Safe road users who are well-trained, knowledgeable of driving challenges and risks, and who are respectful of traffic rules; safe vehicles, which are equipped with proven and effective safety designs and technologies; safe roadways, road designs, and land - use planning that reduce the risk of crashes as well as the risk of death and serious injury when crashes do occur; and safe speeds, including setting safe speed limits, and adequately enforcing those limits."

Let's take a look at the first topic, that of the well-trained driver. My mother tells me that when she was old enough to obtain a driver's licence, she went in, paid two dollars, and was told to go learn to drive. 

I had to take a 20 question multiple choice exam, practice driving a bit, then pass a 15 to 20 minute road test. 

My children took a 50 question exam, passed through two levels of graduated licensing which included one hour exams, and took formal driver training because I felt that it was an important life skill.

That's quite a change over three generations. To put it all in perspective: A driving examiner confided in me that even after passing through the Graduated Licensing Program, drivers still only possess the basic skills necessary to drive, and that further training would be needed to become a really accomplished safe driver.

Pop quiz: Hands up all of you who have taken formal in vehicle driver training after getting your basic licence. 

Some of you will say yes, but I'm guessing that the majority of those who did, did so because their work required it, rather than for personal reasons.

Let's move on to being respectful of traffic rules. I expand this to being respectful of other road users, because the traffic rules alone are only part of the equation. Sometimes we need to be nice to others even when the rules tell us that legally there is no requirement to do so. The Golden Rule is not found in the Motor Vehicle Act, but does need to be part of every driver's learning.

Sadly, I see drivers today being less respectful of the traffic rules and each other. What stands out for me is women and young drivers. For example, when I began policing years ago, I rarely wrote a traffic ticket to women. By the time I retired, I no longer noticed a difference in frequency between genders. 

Aside from enforcement action, Moving to Vision Zero establishes the following priorities: 

The development of a sector-wide provincial road safety calendar of education and awareness initiatives

The development of a best practices toolkit for education and awareness events

The creation of a provincial road safety logo

The building of a network for distributing education and awareness campaigns. 

Hmm, advertising and tickets, no mention of testing, training, or incentive to improve skills. I'll have to re-read the document, maybe I missed it. . . .

This article is written by or on behalf of an outsourced columnist and does not necessarily reflect the views of Castanet.