From: douglasc@fraser.sfu.ca (Douglas Ming Chong)
Subject: Re: sidebar re 401
Organization: Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, B.C., Canada
Distribution: can
Date: Thu, 13 Aug 1992 08:17:24 GMT


>pww@bnr.ca (Peter Whittaker) writes:

>> In article <1992Aug12.141713.3887@bmerh85.bnr.ca> 1596118@x400gate.bnr.ca wri
>> >Now for the kicker.  I was born and raised in Ottawa and when I'm out
>> >with a group of friends they're always amazed that someone actually still
>> >lives here who was born here.  Seems to me, its not the "Ottawa" drivers
>> >that are so bad its the large diversity of driving practices that people
>> >from other cities and countries bring with them.  Everybody expects things
>> >to be the same everywhere.  Compare Montreal and Toronto, both big cities,
>> >both have different "common" driving practices.  Mix them all together and
>> >it spells Ottawa.
>> 
B
>> Common driving practice, Ottawa:    ignore all other drivers, all
>> driving laws, signals, signs, traffic obstructions;  drive as slowly as
>> possible in any 100km/h zone, as quickly as possible in all other
>> zones;  pay as much attention as possible to kites, birds, children
>> playing harmlessly on second story balconies;  stop for pedestrians, no
>> matter how fast you're going, no matter who's got the right of way, no
>> matter what you will do the rest of the traffic, even if that
>> pedestrian is only thinking about setting foot on the pavement.  Decide
>> that you want to take the upcoming exit at the last moment, while you
>> are in the left-most lane:  accelerate until you are within one
>> car-length or less of the car in front of you, cross all lanes between
>> you and the exit, ignoring all other cars (they'll brake in time...),
>> and brake violently as soon as you are in the exit lane.  Remember to
>> avoid signalling any intention;  if you do signal inadvertently,
>> remember to leave your signal until you reach your destination.  Run
>> red lights, jump start green lights, ignore yellow lights.  Above all,
>> never take an alternate route, no matter how badly the main route is
>> blocked up, under construction, flooded, etc.
>> 
>> Things Ottawa drivers know how to do: .  Sad, isn't it?
>> 
>> Accidents in Ottawa are caused by:  boneheads.  For purposes of this
>> discussion, boneheads are all Ottawa drivers who do realize how bad
>> driving in Ottawa really is.

I lived in Ottawa for four months and I found Ottawa drivers to be pretty
bad too.  Running red lights seems to be a favourite pastime of Ottawans.
So far the tone has been that Ottawa has one of the worst drivers in 
Canada.  Living out here in the WestCoast of Canada we think we have the 
worst drivers in the Greater Vancouver area.  Our drivers are rude, speedy
and pretty dangerous.  The hilly land doesn't help either.  Everybody
here thinks we have the worst drivers.  To back up this claim our
insurance rates have hit the roof.  This year the insurance premiums
went up 19% and next year probably 15% or more.  The reason is too
many accidents.  Our accident rate and claim costs seem to go up 
geometrically each year.  It looks as though we will be facing increasing
premiums unless Vancouver and British Columbian drivers shape up.
In Vancouver it almost never never snows.  But when it does all hell
breaks loose.  Drivers with summer tires dare to drive in the snow.
Accident claims skyrocket whenever it snows.  However, it must be pointed
out the type of snow we get are not the dry sprinkles that are common
in Ottawa.  We get the big fluffy snow up to a foot deep in a short
period of time.  Seeing Ottawa drivers and Vancouver drivers both
are pretty bad.  But some Vancouver drivers are maniacs on the road driving
their cars and after paying through the nose on our insurance rates we
claim to have THE WORST DRIVERS IN CANADA.

Doug
.


>> 
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