Re: High speed main factor in traffic deaths (Letters, June 8)
While it is indeed important to keep right on our highways unless passing, many speed lovers seem to misunderstand what this involves.
We never have the right – ever – to exceed the speed limit in the left-hand lane or anywhere else. If there is slow-moving traffic in the right lane, we can move left and pass at the speed limit.
Frequently I will be in the left lane, passing cars on my right, when someone aggressively comes up behind me, flashing their lights.
They seem to think that I should move over and wait behind slower traffic, so they can drive as fast as they want in the left lane. Not likely.
We have speed limits for a reason. According to the police and ICBC, speeding is a major cause of accidents, injury and death.
The faster we drive, the greater the risk. This is an irrefutable fact, proven in countless studies around the world. It is not in dispute among traffic experts.
Those who think that driving fast is safe are simply deluding themselves, and trying to twist the argument to support their views. Worse, speeders place the rest of us at risk with their illegal, selfish, irresponsible behaviour.
Moving to the right on a highway is a courtesy, not a legal requirement. And courtesy is given, never taken. It’s up to the driver. And drivers doing the speed limit in the left lane are under absolutely no obligation to move over, so someone can break the law and endanger lives by speeding.
Richard Brunt
Victoria