Hurry Up and Slow Down

by Jonathan van Bilsen

Driving has become increasingly frustrating lately, and it seems to be a shared experience no matter where you are. Traffic is heavier than ever, and our infrastructure struggles to keep up with the growing demand. Maintaining roads and highways is not cheap, and with resistance to paying more in taxes, improvements seem slow. These, however, are challenges I can accept as part of the reality we face.

What really frustrate me are the careless actions of certain drivers. Carpooling may not be feasible for everyone, but I wonder how many people genuinely try to make it work. It is disheartening to see so many single-occupant vehicles on the road, contributing to the congestion.

One behaviour which particularly gets me is when drivers in a lane which is clearly ending, speed up to cut in front of others at the last minute. It is infuriating and unnecessary, and they rarely end up any further ahead. This kind of selfishness puts everyone at risk and adds to the chaos.

Another annoyance is drivers who zoom past me, even when I am already going over the speed limit, only to find them waiting at the next traffic light. It baffles me how little regard some have for the safety of others, prioritizing their need to get ahead by a few seconds over the well-being of everyone on the road.

Gridlock is another issue which is particularly problematic in urban areas. How hard is it to wait until the intersection clears before pulling ahead? Just because the light turns green does not mean you should proceed if the cars in front are stuck. Yet, so many people seem to ignore this simple rule, creating unnecessary delays for everyone.

Pedestrians are not without fault either. I often see people eyeing the countdown timer at crosswalks and deciding they can sprint across before the time runs out. It is reckless and creates avoidable hazards for both themselves and drivers.

Let us not forget cyclists. As someone who enjoys cycling myself, it frustrates me when riders take up an entire lane by travelling side by side in large groups. Both drivers and cyclists need to respect the designated bike lanes and the rules of the road.

The reality is traffic is not going to improve anytime soon. So, the best we can do is allow ourselves extra time, stay calm, and maybe listen to these articles on your favourite podcast channel.

Jonathan van Bilsen is a television host, award-winning photographer, published author, columnist and keynote speaker. Watch his show, ‘The Jonathan van Bilsen Show’, on RogersTV, the Standard Website and YouTube and follow his adventures at photosNtravel.com