A Web Site For Toronto Mommies

Published July 23, 2009 @ 09:16 by Tania in My Rules

I am not a frequent downtown Toronto driver, however this week the boys are attending camp at the ROM, so I need to get them dropped off at Avenue Road and Bloor Street every morning during rush hour.

Here are some of my pet peeves about driving in the city:

1. NOT SIGNALING - what is so difficult about using you signal? Let me know if you are merging, turning left or right, changing lanes, or going around a park car. Am I just supposed to guess?


2. PASSING RIGHT - Every time I come to a red light in Toronto, someone pulls up on my right and tries to rush through the light to pull into my lane before they reach the parked cars in their lane. We are all in a hurry - don't be so pushy!


3. BIKES PASSING RIGHT - when I am signally to turn right, cyclists shouldn't be squeezing in between me and the curb on the right. Notice the signal? Yesterday I had one cyclist yell and angrily gesture because he had to squeeze between me and the curb when I was turning right. He was going straight. Idiot!


4. CYCLISTS GOING THROUGH RED LIGHTS - OK. You are on the road, you have wheels, you are a vehicle. Obey the rules of the road.


5. PEDESTRIANS CROSSING EVERYWHERE - I am really trying not to hit anyone, but we do seem to have street lights at every intersection. Why do you cross 10 metres from the light and interrupt the flow of traffic? Of course I am going to stop for you - I don't want to hurt you! But use your head.


6. KNOW THE RULES OF THE ROAD - Remember learning about how to handle an intersection when the traffic lights are out? Treat it as an All Way Stop. Stop, and take your turn! In case you don't know - taking turns means that the person on your right goes first, then you. Most Toronto drivers don't even slow down when approaching an intersection with the traffic lights out. Trying not to show weakness? Come on!


7. TAKE TURNS - Something we try to teach our kids, but somehow forget ourselves. When you come to a stop sign, stop and go when it is your turn. If you stop behind someone else, you DON'T get to go when they go, you have to stop yourself at the line. Whoever gets to the stop sign first, goes first. If you get there at the same time, the person to the right goes first. Where it is not an All Way stop intersection, people going straight go before people turning.

PLEASE! I wish people would just be more considerate when driving. And use their heads. We could all get where we are going faster and safer.