Last week, I was getting out of the car after parking it in front of China Sail at the corner of Fifth Avenue and Tabor Boulevard, when a fire engine, sirens on, raced west on Fifth Avenue toward the intersection, blasting its horns like crazy.
It shook me out of my boots!
I turned quickly enough to see a car merrily making a left-hand turn from Tabor onto Fifth, seemingly oblivious to the huge emergency vehicle barrelling down on it.
Close call! Inattention!
It's spring, the time of year when minds wander to the activities of warmer days ahead and drivers forget they control a piece of metal which so quickly can become deadly.
After watching that near-miss experience, is it any wonder my knickers are really in a knot as I write this? Our winter was mild.
Our brains must be defrosted by now, so what gives?
Drivers, please pay attention.
Our city folks are feverishly working to get our roads cleaned up. Slow down a bit when you approach them. We lost a flag person's life last year. That should never have happened.
Let's be cognizant of city equipment with flag crews trying to clean and fix our streets and sidewalks for all to enjoy.
I am starting to see more scooters in use, as well as wheelchairs.
Not only that, but I have actually seen cars parked on sidewalks.
The result of bike lanes, perhaps? This is not Europe. Those folks need to get around as well.
Utility poles in the middle of sidewalks are bad enough as it is.
Let's not forget that we are encouraged to bike to work and some brave souls even skateboard. The roads and sidewalks are for all not just cars and trucks.
I would like a nickel every time we come to the intersection of First Avenue and Tabor that someone does not bother to stop at the big red thing also known as a stop sign!
When you make a right turn, where did you learn that it is okay to rush into the left lane? Signaling in time to let the other drivers know what is on your mind is not a courtesy, it is a rule of the road.
People are not mind readers.
You are operating a machine that can kill innocent people. You must pay attention.
When we get in our car, the first thing we automatically do is buckle up. It is a given now, so why are folks not addressing the hand-held devices the same way?
Really, what is so important that can't wait until you are in a safe and legal area? Did you know that besides risking injury or even death, drivers can also be fined $368 by the RCMP, receive four ICBC driver penalty points and a further $175 ICBC premium penalty? The cost goes up from there for each additional infraction. If your neglect kills someone, you will have to live with it and part of that life may be spent in jail.
Folks this column is all about respect. We have a terrific community so let's stick around and enjoy it.
Breslin was the real deal
On another note: Jimmy Breslin passed away last week. Without a doubt, the Pulitzer Prize winning author was, in my opinion, the finest investigative reporter ever. The brash journalist from Queens, New York, was not afraid to go where others wouldn't for a story.
Jimmy didn't know what fake news even meant. It was not in his vocabulary. He was blunt, honest and no nonsense, but he also wrote from his heart.
I had the privilege of many chats with this giant, mostly when he'd be writing on an animal topic.
When I first started writing, he also offered meaningful advice.
He was the real deal. He will be greatly missed.
