Drivers are getting worse

Re: Waste of police resources

Seeing as I record five or six dangerous manoeuvres, near misses and fender benders almost every day, I find the argument that police enforcement is a waste of resources invalid.

I ride as much as I can, and record every ride.

A fellow rider was almost taken out by a motorist not paying attention when changing lanes, then I was almost T-boned, and had to avoid a vehicle that stopped with its nose in a turning lane, but the driver couldn’t make up their mind where to go. Then there was the driver who decided to reverse on Springfield in a turning lane.

Our bike’s signalling devices, from headlights, to brake lights and turn signal are safety features for us, and there are rules to them. I know the idea of buying bullet signals or integrated brake and turn signals (likely the issue) is tempting, but they simply aren’t safe. The vehicles around you either won’t see the indicator or for that matter are confused by it.

This is why there are rules and regulations for your own safety.

It may seem arbitrary, but the RCMP are doing their job, and I can’t complain about that. I have had way too many close calls on bike and in car with either type of other vehicle, and even though I ride, I have been surprised by rider behaviour and have had to step hard on the brakes.

With the dangers only increasing, and driver/rider behaviour showing signs of getting worse, I definitely welcome more RCMP enforcement.

I have ridden here for a while, but over the last three years I have seen a drastic change in driver behaviour, which would indicate there is a severe lack of ability to deal with the higher traffic volumes.

Philipp zu Putlitz, Kelowna