Driving in Toronto

Well Kids after a brief hiatus, my ramblings return!

Today I wish to chit-chat about Torontonian drivers and how poor they are...

Taking the picture to our right, we would be forgiven for thinking that this shot was taken after a hapless Torontonian driver made a wrong turn off the DVP...

Ladies and Gents, as my profile indicates, I am a proud citizen of the mighty United Kingdom and being brought up driving on the opposite side of the road, I probably am not the best person to spout about how terrible my fellow Toronto residents drive...

But, I have to correct myself. In the six or so months I have been happy to call Toronto home, I have been witness to no less than two near misses...

In my ten years driving in the UK, braving the death-trap that is the legendary London Orbital, (better known as the M25) I have never witnessed a single near miss.

People seem to drive with their heads up their arses here and if it wasn't for the statistics I checked out on the web prior to going to press, I would have sworn that Toronto, specifically - as I have not had the pleasure of driving any further West than London, ON - was the traffic accident capital of the world. (As a point of note however; there are about 100,000 more accidents in the UK than Canada as a whole, just incase my adoring readers think I am being negatively biased).

I have seen people swerving between several lanes whilst having a very heated debate on a cell phone doing 140km/h West on the 401. People don't indicate any intention to change lanes. Cars, trucks and bikers ride your arse seemingly in a Cannon Ball Race across Canada, forcing you into a near miss yourself.

My people, it is a war-zone on the Toronto highways and byways... AND BY GOD I HAVE HAD ENOUGH!

Road rage: I have to tell you, my wife - a Canadian - is not such a bad driver... and a relatively calm woman... But I will never forget the day I was witness to this lovely woman loosing it at another driver...

There was saliva flying out of her mouth as she yelled and shook every body part at this guy. Handbags and their contents flew around the small poky cabin of the $9.99 rental that we had at the time, all because some FOOL failed to indicate his intention to merge left - I have to say I was very shaken after the experience and this was while in Virginia.

Once we relocated to Canada, I fast began to realize where this Jeckl and Hyde road related attitude materialized from.

Every other driver up here is a tunnel visioned moron who thinks they are the only person on

the road! But what makes matters worse, is that the highways - especially - are absolutely crazy every second of the day... and you have to pray to the gods of asphalt as you head down the ramp, (my life actually flashes before my eyes as I merge onto the slow lane heading to work) to deliver you to your destination in one piece.

Taking the picture above, I would not be at all surprised that this was taken after a Torontonian driver naturally assumed that the horse trailer would get out of his way if he accelerated...

For crying out loud! The SUV and horse trailer is a cumbersome motor vehicle combo to maneuver down country roads at the best of times, let alone tearing down a packed highway...

I really struggle to understand what went through the drivers mind as they headed into the trailer; other than the poor horses arse...

Ladies and Gentlemen, I feel that my ramblings have run a little dry for the moment, but I think you get the idea... In all fairness, I feel that all these lovely pictures have been taken in the good ole' United States... so draw your own conclusions.

Let me leave you, however, with one final picture... I ask you, what the hell was going through this persons mind as they were backing up?

Until next we meet my people... Another blogs the dust!