I was up in Ottawa last week to do a bit of research and shopping. On the way home the weather started getting bad as a second snow storm came through. On Highway 417 it wasn't bad at all. Once I got to Tayside on Highway 138 though, there were white outs, snow drifts and all around dangerous condisitions. I was still able to travel between 70 and 80 kph so that wasn't bad timing nor control either. Still from there to Cornwall I was passed by 14 cars/trucks and 3 tractortrailers. Most either dangerously came close to my vehicle as it passed or quickly cut me off re-entering the southbound lane. I was livid, especially by the transports passing me, but I had to maintain control of the car so I just grumbled and carried on. I did see on the way home between Monkland and St. Andrews 5 vehicles in the ditch and one transport that went too far to the right and was stuck in a huge drift. I couldn't tell, but I had hoped those were the idiots that passed me. While they were stuck there I arrived at home, 5 - 10 minutes later than I had originally planned before the storm rolled in. I couldn't help but remember past statements about Highway 138. Many in the political and general public have called the highway dangerous, unsafe and in need of either widenning to 4 lanes, cut off from having so many intersections or installing a few passing lanes similar to old Highway 17 to Hawkesbury and Highway 15 to Kingston. Is that really the problem though?
I have driven on the 138 for 21 years and it has only been in the last 10 that there has been public outcry. Coincidentally that is how long I have noticed drivers have become more brazen, arrogent and careless in their vehicles. People are going through stop signs, slowing down at red lights then zipping through, not yeilding the right of way, cutting off other drivers, speeding, etc. In no way am I saying I am the best driver on the road, I am however a damn good driver overall. I admit that my one infraction is speeding, doing 10 kms over the speed limit, but that's it. I have been in four accidents in my life, the first I was hit by a drunk driver, the second I was cut off by a driver who was in the middle lane and suddenly decided to make a left turn right in my path without looking to see that I was next to her bumper. Third was one that was an act of weather conditions when I couldn't stop while coming down an overpass and I rearended the person in front of me (no tickets issued, but my insurance deemed me at fault). The last one I was waiting to pull out of a parking lot when someone backed out of their parking space and rammed me dead on in the middle of my car.
So back to the 138. Every time I drive on it I go 90 kph, 10 more than posted. I am always passed by many drivers and of late even nuts that pass when it is a double line or solid on our side. I had the road once to myself and out of the blue a set of headlight quickly came up behind me. The jerk passed and then disappeared into the night ahead of me. About 5 minutes later I saw an OPP car on the side with his speed gun out. made me wonder what happened to Speedy that passed me. Anyway, myself and many others have said it, Highway 138 is a good, well maintained road....so long as you obey the rules of the road. Those that complain are the ones who pass other at any time, speed at alarming numbers and end up causing accidents.
Two month ago, I was surprised to see a car speeding up to my bumper, pass me without signalling, go back in the lane in front of me without signalling and drive off into the distance. I won't say who it was by name but I will say that the driver was a well-known Cornwall Council member who has been on record as saying that the 138 is dangerous and needs to be widened or the speed limit raised. Well no wonder, this politician is one of those in the percentages of being part of the dangerous drivers of the 138 problem!!
Years ago I witnessed the aftermath of a collision on the 138. I saw the yellow tarp inside one car and, with my policing studies background I realized it was covering a body. I later learned in the media that it was a mother and child who were hit dead on by an impatient driver passing a transport truck on a double line section of the road. That was gruesome, especially when I learned that the one who caused the accident lived without even a scratch on them and that the judicial system only gave him a minute fine. Knowing that story and many others, you'd think people would be more careful....nope, they just don't care because it didn't happen to them therefore they carry on with how they drive. I was a bit wild when I got my license and what calmed me down was that run in with that drunk driver (and other things involved from that accident that I had to fight about). 2 years of being a driver and I realized some of the stunts I was doing was not safe to my passengers or other drivers, no matter how well I was a driver.
So does the 138 need improvements? Serious, there are just two problems that I see. The portion from Cornwall Centre Road and St. Andrews West should be just a regular road and a new by-pass should be built from the north end of Brookdale Avenue to merge back to the highway north of St. Andrews West and that CPR crossing in Monkland. It's like you are driving through a rock garden there. Otherwise, no...the road is pretty much in great shape. Should the road be widenned? Maybe it does need a passing lane in a couple of spots due to farmers running their equipment on the road. Should it be a 400 series highway? OMG, no way!!!!! Should the speed limit be higher? Maybe....but always remember that no matter what is posted, some drivers just go faster. What is needed is more police presence in unmarked cars and serious infractions should not be just let off with a warning but met with fines.
Some of you may be reading this and saying BAH!!!! Well think of this just for a moment. Your kid is out driving somewhere. Suddenly the phone rings and it is the police saying there was a terrible accident and you are needed at the hospital. You get there and find out they had passed away, killed in a car accident that was caused by a reckless driver ignoring the rules of the road. Tell me how you will feel about your own driving practices after going through that?
Remember, the speed limit is 80 kph, pass other cars when it is a broken line for your side of the road and when it is clear of oncoming traffic and always respect other drivers, even the idiots. You'll get to where you are going safely and in one piece. Heck, maybe all our insurance rates will finally go down with better driving skills. What scares me is seeing that there are others that don't give a damn....just watch any season of Canada's Worst Drivers on the Discovery Channel. OMG, how could those people have a licence??????
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