Perth Town Traffic & Crosswalks

Courtesy crosswalk sign

Small town traffic

As we drove home at 6:30 p.m. in the dusk, we were hard-pressed to see people crossing at the new crosswalks. It is very dark. It's a problem with this time of year.

There is some controversy around the crosswalks, as they are 'courtesy' crosswalks. They have changes planned, thankfully. They've repainted the crosswalks, but just on one side. They are reducing the crosswalks, but making them mandatory.

Devoy, who writes for our local small paper, writes that they have recommended two solar-powered automated pedestrian crossing systems along Gore St. They cost $29,000 each. They are considering it as part of the 2018 budget. This is a good thing. It's a brilliant idea! ('Scuse the pun!) Sadly, people are hard to spot, with cars parked on corners outside legal parking. This is something they need to monitor, as well.

The camera automatically lightens the photo, but you see where they aren't in our headlights.

They are pretty dark, all things considered. You cannot see people at the left side.
Perth Crosswalks from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

Then there is this intersection.

Gore St & North where we nearly witnessed an accident. It is a two-way stop.  The car on the right doesn't have a stop sign, they have the right of way. We beat the truck to the stop sign but we let a pedestrian cross, then the truck began to move. The dark-coloured car had to put on its brakes.
I'm thinking this should be a 4-way stop to prevent many incidents.


It's pretty scary out there. We could use a ring road, but that's big bucks for a small town.
Education would be a good idea, but people are so distracted. There were two drivers in the truck, but pretty scary.

92% of all road deaths are preventable

Operation Impact traffic safety initiative, which kicks off Friday and runs over the Thanksgiving long weekend. Police will be out in full-force on both roadways and waterways targeting the “Big Four” factors.

An OPP report says about 92% of the 1,507 deaths on provincial police-patrolled roads in the last five years were preventable. This came out just as I had to travel 328 km to Toronto, returning on Friday of the long weekend.

city driving from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

Before I left Toronto, I checked Google and there were 7 traffic incidents across the 401 highway. It was stop and go everywhere.


I made a bad mistake coming home. First, the 401 was bumper-to-bumper to Oshawa.  Then, I used the toll road, 407. It isn't complete, but it was very busy. Where it ends, EVERYONE was driving on CR 3, which had stop signs. There must have been 100 cars in front and behind. In hindsight, I'd use highway #7.


Canadian Thanksgiving is this weekend. We do a lot of daycation driving. We see many incidents of aggressive drivers, as well as those who would risk our lives to hurry to their next destination. Life is too short. The attitudes of these cavalier drivers shocks me.

On one highway, I think 401, or perhaps 115, I had just passed a slower truck. A guy pulls up behind me, passes me on the right, just as I was about to go back into that lane. He passed me, passed another car on the right an then pulled in front of him with little room. I couldn't find the dashcam video of him, though.

I was driving 80 km/hr, the speed limit, here, highway #7.

being passed from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

The Don Valley Parking Lot, as people call it! It wasn't bad on Friday afternoon on my journey home!
Don Valley Friday Aft from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

Hubby drove into town last month. A woman behind him passed two cars behind him, on the 5 km to town limits, and then passed him. He pulled up behind her at the stop light. This is dangerous, stupid and puts us all at risk.




What can civilians do?

• Tell your family, refuse to drive with those who would risk you or your loved ones. 
• Slow down, someone out there loves you or your victim.
• Call dangerous drivers out. 
• Report dangerous driving.

Between 2011 and 2015, 1400 deaths (92%) were caused by the big four:
distracted driving, impaired driving, aggressive driving, and lack of seatbelt use.

• inattentive driving was a factor in 408 deaths
• speeding in 336 deaths
• failure to wear a seat belt in 335 deaths
• alcohol and drugs contributed to 321 deaths.

Highway 401...it never stops. #DriveSafe pic.twitter.com/eRTeJROCQL

— Sgt Kerry Schmidt (@OPP_HSD) October 3, 2016

Press release

Distracted driving –ubiquitous

Cellphones blamed as fatal collisions by 'distracted drivers' up 17% - Canada - CBC News

The number of deaths caused by distracted drivers is on the rise, surpassing impaired drivers in some areas, despite ad campaigns, new legislation and police crackdowns across the country.

It's the law!

Yes, People are doing it. Whether it was the guy behind me, driving a bit too close in a 60 km zone, removing his t-shirt. We went from an 80 km to 60 km, and he removed his ball cap, glasses, then shirt. I was thinking I might just pull over, but wasn't sure he'd see me slow down. He was tailing me.

There are many technological devices. They've had to invent them to try to reach drivers, but they just don't get it. They are gifted, and the rules do not apply to them. Those who are inexperienced drivers seem to be the worst, as they embrace technology, but haven't the wisdom to avoid using a smartphone.

There are many ways to be distracted. I am amazed, as we drive about on our daycations, at the number of people still using cell phones as they drive. I saw a trucker, presumably holding the wheel steady with his knees, holding his lunch, eating with a fork as he drove by on the busy highway.

On our way through Smiths Falls, I spotted some tractors. Just after I clicked the photo, the guy in the middle vehicle picked up his cell phone! Traffic was backed up, and the 4th vehicle didn't make it through. Many times, I've been behind a tractor, taking my time, and a third vehicle passes the 2 of us. This is farm country. Deal with it!
With cell phones, people just can't seem to put them down!

This farmer was stopped and talking!

But cellphones are the worst, the most ubiquitous, and most dangerous. 

Then, there is just stupidity. Important people with important things to do! When your lane stops, it would be wise to slow down, and merge?

Pick a lane!

This person was parked on the shoulder, then pulled out
perhaps without looking?

This show-off in his corvette thought we were too slow!

Who knows what happened here!

Toronto police 'Last Call' Campaign - 8 deaths too many

This week, Toronto police have been riding the red rocket, Toronto Transit Commission's streetcars, watching drivers as they are passed by the street car. The drivers do not expect the police to pop off the vehicle and grab them for chatting on a cell phone while driving.

What a fabulous idea.
I have many fine memories of traveling the TTC streetcar to Ryerson University, 1975 -79.

The only people who can be on their phones, or other handheld devices, are emergency crews. The same is true for British Columbia.

The fines in Ontario begin at $155, but if you go to court the judge can change it from $50 to $500!

There have been 8 deaths attributed to distracted driving this year, 2012.
The fine in Ontario can go as high as $2000 if a judge makes the decision.

I love my GPS in the forest.
Essential!

This is true for all handheld devices: GPS, iPhone, Crackberry, and entertainment devices. There are many who are addicted to their technology and cannot simply concentrate on the road and driving conditions.

You can't tweet, text, or talk. Of course, you shouldn't.
In house hunting, driving miles with real estate agents, I must admit that I have chastised a couple to put down their phones. They happened to be driving. You must speak out. We spent weeks house-hunting, driving with distracted drivers who risked it all for a call.

In one year Toronto Police Services (TPS) have laid 17,000 charges. I find it shocking, but not surprising. Sgt. Burrows says one is 23 times more likely to have an accident while distracted by a device.

The OPP charged 8,522 drivers last year for using a hand-held device while driving.

She was approaching a stop light, I was shocked.

 It took TPS 30 years to get a 90% rate for drivers to wear seatbelts. We can do this for distracted drivers!

It will take family and friends to speak up and speak out, not just lawmakers and the law, to patrol.

How important can it be to risk life and limb?
How fair is it to take another's life, depriving a family of a family member?

Speak up. Speak out. The life you save might be your own.

You are forewarned:

He was in a big truck, waiting to do a left turn.

 OPP cracking down on distracted driving
In 2010, there were more than 7,000 collisions on OPP-patrolled roads due to distracted driving resulting in 35 deaths and over 1,000 injuries.

In Feb., 2011, Toronto police charge 2500 in distracted driving crackdown

23 Feb 2011 – It's been a little over a year since police began nabbing drivers talking on their phones while driving — but apparently motorists have not ...

Distracted drivers are everywhere. These are all my photos, and there were many I spotted but couldn't grab a snap. I can't tell you how often I see them when we are taking our Daycations!

For Gen Y, they seem not to heed our warnings. Our adolescents think themselves immortal. These teens have grown up with technology and have taken this egocentric spirit into their adulthood.
Parents, grandparents, speak out and speak up.

He nearly hit me as I was stepping onto the curb from a cross walk.

This driver looks guilty. He must be texting from his lap!

Toronto police crack down on distracted drivers

14 Feb 2011 – 'Last call' campaign targets drivers ignoring year-old law banning use of electronic devices

Cops crackdown on distracted drivers

That's just the “tip of the iceberg” of Torontonians driving distracted,  Toronto Police Const. Hugh Smith said Monday at the launch of the Don't Drive ...