Traffic regulations keep us all safe

Re: Application of the law doesn’t make sense — Oct. 7

Ever since the first speeding ticket issued to the driver of a motorized vehicle on a street in 1912, there have been doubts and debates over certain traffic laws and their enforcement.

Generally speaking, the traffic laws are made to enable drivers, cyclists and pedestrians to travel safely and allow those around them to proceed without collisions. Of course, we must be aware of the laws and be willing to obey them.

There has often been advice given by parents and others to passengers: “Don’t distract the driver!” That is a timely idea. With many more vehicles vying for “the travel portion of the road,” the constant alertness of the person behind the wheel is a prerequisite to driving.

The recent introduction of phone use in vehicles has been a challenge for the authorities to monitor and regulate. Because individuals are making separate decisions about their behaviour in traffic, the importance of adhering to laws in a uniform way for all travelers is a priority. The current laws for cellphone use in vehicles may be questioned by some. But we can be sure they are for the safety of all vehicles in proximity to the cellphone and user, even if stopped but still in “the travel portion of the road.”

The will to obey the law is lacking in many areas of society. As to traffic laws, let us as good citizens direct our minds and hearts to obey our laws, unless we want to be cut from our vehicles or scraped off the pavement. Edythe Christy Waterloo