Alberta's Highways

A sober and alert confident driver, travelling purposefully along a major two-lane highway at twenty or thirty kilometers over the speed limit in good visibility is not a likely safety concern.

A sober and alert nervous driver, travelling mindlessly along a major two-lane highway at five or ten kilometers over the speed limit is a likely safety concern. Seemingly oblivious to the traffic congestion and jockeying resulting from their apparent willful ignorance of lane etiquette, these drivers seem content to occupy a PASSING LANE for an entire two hour trip. This is an aggravating factor for the scores of other drivers who enter into their sphere throughout the duration of their trip, and interferes with what would otherwise be a smooth and natural flow of traffic on Alberta’s highways.

Putting planes in the sky to catch the odd speed demon will not result in any substantial improvements to public safety on our asphalt corridors. It’s my opinion that something should be done to address the issue of those commuters and highway travelers who insist on blocking passing lanes. How about more signage reminding drivers that the outer lane is not intended to be an option (...gee, I'm in the mood for the left lane today) but as an effective means to get around slower moving vehicles? While lane etiquette should be obvious, (...how come whenever I'm behind the wheel, everyone around me starts going crazy? I'm doing the speed limit!) certain drivers simply might not grasp the concept. Perhaps more emphasis on this crucial element of highway travel should be included in driving license exams? 

Creating a buffer of space around your vehicle as it hurtles down the roadway is perhaps one of the most overlooked measures of good driving practice. Consciously adjusting your speed in a way that you're striving to put a mile ahead and a mile behind anyone else on the road only makes sense. Slowing down well before the red light to conserve momentum will save on brakes and fuel. It's simple physics. Tailgaters who are heavy on the brake pedal only contribute to accordion-like traffic flow that ultimately impedes everyone's commute. 

Addressing these sorts of safety issues makes more sense than fueling-up an aircraft every day to write-up a few hundred dollar fines.