Like you, I was saddened by the recent deaths of eight people on the highway leading to Fort McMurray. (I know the media reports have stated seven died, but the pastor's wife was six-months pregnant, so that makes eight).
I am sad for a number of reasons, which I will develop in a few moments. Suffice to say, I'm not sad because a pastor lost his life (good reason, though). Nor was it because it involved people from Newfoundland, a province for which I have fond memories. And it has little to do with that stretch of highway: I have never been to Fort McMurray, or even travelled any part of Highway 63, so it really doesn't mean that much to me.
No, my sadness lies in two other (and separate) areas: One, they're looking to the wrong authority for help; and two, they're looking for the wrong type of help.
In other words, they are demanding the provincial government (public) to do something that local citizens (private) should do; and they are assuming that Solution A will work when, in fact, it's Solution B that's the ticket.
In an environment that depends far too much on Big Brother for health, housing, highways, and a whole host of other amenities and services, it's little wonder that the provincial government is being pulled into this one. Pulled, and I might add, almost blamed at the same time. Obviously, as it sits, the highways are a provincial jurisdiction, so it stands to reason that they should assume complete responsibility for the any improvement.
Complete responsibility, then, that leaves all private sector in the dust—languishing on the proverbial shoulder, if you will—with limited, minimal involvement.
Which leads to the second (seemingly unrelated) issue. The assumed solution is simply twinning the highway, something I have earlier called “Solution A.” That would make it safer, wouldn't it—or would it? Twin it, that is, so all travellers can drive faster, pass more, and get to their destination sooner.
Just for the record, even since the accident, over a three-day period, sheriffs ticketed over 700 drivers for driving violations. It strikes me as very strange that within days of said tragedy, people continue to exceed the speed limit. According to police sources, this happens all the time.
I know I am a mere plebeian, a yeoman of sorts, with no real political insight, I suppose, but I wonder if I could proffer one common sense solution? And it might just apply to other highways as well.
Just wondering, fellow-Albertans, if perhaps we drove a little slower, kept the speed limit, obeyed the highway signs, and used our heads a little more, that we could stop the carnage we see on on our highways a regular basis ?
There is no doubt that twinning some or all of Highway 63—and let's throw in Highway 3 while we're at it—could have some benefits. For instance, it would be handy to get past some dawdling tractor or new driver; and there is greater potential for arriving at one's destination sooner, if there are more lanes to do it in. (No problem there, Maurice.)
But two lanes become four lanes, thus doubling the chances of speeding morons and reckless twits, taking all sorts of risks. Then there is the ice and snow and wind, with more surface, then, to wreak even more havoc. All along, that would allow for more velocity, that is, a mobile 3,000-4,000 pound weapon (also known as a van)--this is not the solution.
You see, I think we've got the right word but the wrong place: It's not those in the seat of government that will solve this; rather, it's those in the seat that has a steering wheel in front of it that will.
No matter where you are going, sit down and slow down. Better to get there in peace, rather than in pieces.
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