A friend of mine shared this news video from CBC with me about rider who got cut off.
In the video below, the rider who is in the left lane, minding his own business.
This black SUV's driver throws on the signals and moves into the left lane, and its very obvious that this driver did not look, or shoulder check.
How many thousands of times a week do you see this very scene play out be you on your bike or in your car/truck. People don't know how to drive, they don't follow or seem to even know the rules of the road.
I feel like every person holding a drivers licences longer should have to rewrite and re drive for their licenses every year. I don't know who is teaching these drivers, who is issuing them licenses but they should all be investigated - these driver examiners. Why else does this country has a TV show called Canada's WORST driver? It's because 90% of people who get behind the wheel of a vehicle, including so called professional drivers haven't got a clue what they are doing. They are too busy doing everything but driving.
But that's not why I am sharing this video...it would be redundant because, as I said, you all watch this play out daily.
No, the reason I shared this was the riders reaction.
Kicking and hitting the SUV until he/she knocked the side mirror off the car.
Now part of me wants to applaud this rider - if you aren't going to use your mirrors, if you aren't going to turn your head and do a safety check before you move over, then maybe you really don't need that mirror...BUT...
What would have happened had he lost control while kicking or punching the vehicle?
I get the fear, the anger, the frustration....
I really do get it, but you can be DEAD RIGHT you know.....
The Zombie Apocalypse is here just incase you missed it. No there wasn't a horrific invasion, there was no violence or bloodshed either.
In fact, the people who have become zombies, it would appear, did so willingly.
Texting while you walk, while you drive, while you have meetings and right after you have sex.
Looking down, oblivious to the world around you, yes, you are a part of the biggest invasion in the world today, the Zombie Apocalypse.
There is a movement that began here in Canada a little over a year ago, wherein some motorcyclists are calling for the legalization of lane splitting.
I have ONE, only ONE huge objection to that....
NO ONE FOLLOWS THE RULES OF THE ROADS AS THEY EXIST NOW.
You know, without a doubt that your city has the stupidest drivers ever. You encounter them daily.
You know without a doubt that there are immigrants to this country who have gotten a license that should not have one, even in a smaller city like Grande Prairie we have them.
It's as if someone gets tired of doing their job and just gives these people licenses.
There are drivers both professional and unprofessional that are texting, reading, disciplining their kids, putting on make up, fighting with their spouses and closing business deals, all while driving
People don't just drive in their vehicles these days, they are too busy living their lives inside their cars, trucks, SUV's and vans to care about you and your life or your legal right to lane split.
Let's take a look at a few hard facts about the Canadian end of the human race:
#1 - People know drinking and driving kills and yet, they catch an average of how many drunks each year driving? The stats from MADD here in Alberta? 1 in 5 people involved in a crash had been drinking. In 5 years 8,600 Albertans have been charged with impaired driving.
#2 - People have known that texting and driving is dangerous for a good number of years now, and yet according to Rate.ca: Distracted Driving is now the number one risk on Canadian roads contributing to 8 in 10 collisions.
#3 - We live in a country where we have a TV show called CANADA's WORST DRIVER - does that not tell you anything? And you want to risk your life Lane Splitting, on your Motorcycle? Seriously?
I hope your ICE card is up to date and that you have your affairs in order. Let me ask you something....
Do you really think that you could educate enough drivers out there to make the risk worth it?
Do you really think that the guy who is stuck in traffic is gonna let your bike through?
Go drive down on the lower mainland of BC during rush hour and tell me if you really think that you want to risk your life that way.
The hot heads and road-ragers out there will tune you in in short order and they won't care if there is a law that would allow you to do that.
The video below is from Los Angeles, where Lane Splitting has been legal for years:
The rider in this video does not help his cause and is just as much of a hot head as the guy in the car and puts himself needlessly at risk.
And that my friends is the human race and you really want to risk your life to lane splitting?
Whatever floats your boat, but knowing the quality of people driving that I have encountered on the roadways of Canada, you won't be catching this gal lane splitting, legally or otherwise any time soon.
And that's what's on my mind today...
Belt Drive Betty,
Editor & Rider
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