Getting behind the wheel: it's always about responsibility
Yet we continue to be supplied with those reminders.
A number of separate incidents - specifically one in North York - this past weekend underscore how dangerous things can be out there. Each roadway incident, in its own way, always does.
In this case, it was an early Saturday morning at the scene of a fatal accident in the Steeles Avenue and Hidden Trail area (east of Dufferin). A police cruiser, assigned as part of the emergency coverage to a tragic collision scene involving a Mini Cooper and a transport, was rear-ended by another car. The driver of the vehicle that hit the cruiser has since been charged with dangerous and impaired driving.
We bring the issue up not to be alarmist or hysterical. We do so to point out that this is what, regrettably, can happen.
Motorists have a significant amount of responsibility. They're in charge of a machine that weighs thousands of pounds that can travel at a high rate of speed. They're responsible, for example, for not getting behind the wheel when they are under the influence, or sleep-deprived.
All motorists also have a responsibility to be aware of their surroundings on the road. They must be courteous in sharing the roadway, observant of the other users - both in terms of their personal safety, that of their passengers, other motorists, cyclists and pedestrians. They must take heed and be informed about how to react in an emergency situation, and how to proceed when emergency services vehicles are in their line of sight.
Police, fire and paramedics routinely risk their lives in the service of others. Let's not contribute to the stress and hazards - particularly in that they were attending a fatality - by being uninformed, or worse, uncaring motorists.
Incidentally, another instance of a cruiser being hit followed later in the weekend, this time downtown in which a cruiser was struck in what appears to be a hit and run. In total, three officers sustained minor injuries in the two incidents. Thankfully, it wasn't worse.
It's always de rigueur to complain at length about bad driving. The best step the overwhelming majority of us can do is to know the rules, remain vigilant on the road, give yourself and those around you an appropriate amount of space. These perfectly sensible statements are oft-repeated - for good reason.
Given the tremendous amount of responsibility vehicle operators are entrusted with every time they get behind the wheel, it seems odd to issue a reminder of what that responsibility entails.
Given that tragic examples occur all too frequently, those additional reminders to take care on our roads are going to keep coming.
