Driving a vehicle is a privilege

Dear editor: I was a professional truck driver for 10 years in Vancouver having had a Class 1 licence. I then went to B.C. Transit, after an extensive five-week course, and drove a bus. After five years I became an instructor with B.C. Transit training new drivers the same five-week extensive course.

Looking back, it was the best training you could get. We were told every accident was avoidable unless you were stationary. We were given lessons on air brake, defensive driving, hazard avoidance, fire fighting, first aid, reading traffic lights when approaching intersections, and adjusting speeds due to weather conditions.

This training course should be given to all Class 1 drivers, as I have seen them cause so many accidents on our highways. They speed as they pass each other all the time on Hwy. 5, Hwy. 3, and Hwy. 1.

I have avoided many accidents in my 73 years of driving, even with those semi truck drivers. I also feel strongly that the drivers who cause the accidents should pay a higher fee; not those of us with a clean driving record.

Having traveled the highways many times, I would suggest that all trucks, buses, motorhomes, etc. only be allowed to use the right lane only, and at a lower speed than cars.

I understand that is the law in Washington State. I now live in Penticton, since 2003, and see many elderly drivers going through red lights and driving at very low speeds, many can hardly get into their cars. I would suggest that the re examination would be better at 75 years of age rather than 80 years old, as suggested by the Government of B.C.

I have also talked to ICBC safety managers regarding a pre-licence young drivers defensive driving course, pre-trip inspection of vehicles prior to trips, if they supplied the car I could go to every high school in the Okanagan Valley to inform them of road safety; that driving a vehicle is a privilege not a right. P.H. Kreeft Penticton