Readers offer their suggestions on how to stop bad driving

Bring back photo radar to catch speeders.

Keep trucks and buses to the right-hand lane.

Crack down on people who text while driving, or who tailgate other drivers.

These are just a few of the ideas readers offered, in passionate rants and eloquently worded letters, about keeping our highways safer.

Saturday’s column discussed the high level of accidents and driving-related charges on Highway 401.

I asked for your feedback. And you delivered!

“‘Terrible’ is an understatement when it comes to driving habits on our local roads and freeways,” said Dennis Wallace, a chauffeur for a local limousine company.

On a return trip from Toronto, one in three drivers was texting while at the wheel, he said.

Some readers who have lived and driven abroad say Canadians are the worst drivers they have ever encountered.

“I speculate that Canadians are so polite, they let their aggression out in two ways: driving and hockey violence,” wrote David Heath.

He said English highways are much safer than Canadian ones, because “traffic is almost ‘choreographed’ in its flawless adherence to rules governing lane speed and overtaking,”

Judy Hoffman of St. Jacobs says even her grandchildren notice the hazardous highway conditions.

“My grandchildren live in Mississauga and often travel the 401 to visit us,” she said in an email.

“They are six and seven years of age and upon their last visit told us that trucks should have their own highway. A very profound statement from a sevenyear-old.”

Gregory Katchin said the lane markings are faint on the highway between Townline Road in Cambridge and Highway 8.

He thinks they should be repainted.

“At night it is very difficult to see the lane markings, which is dangerous, given the various curves in the roadway,” said Katchin, who lives in Cambridge.

“I think this has caused accidents here.”

Lots of people complained about tailgaters.

Ruth Thomson of Cambridge asked if driver training programs teach the safe distance to remain behind a car so you can avoid a collision if the car in front has to stop suddenly.

“If it is being taught, many drivers ignore it, and they are putting my life and theirs at risk,” she said.

Plenty of people agreed with a proposal that Highway 401 raise its speed limit for cars but also strictly enforce rules, like never passing on the right.

One of the reasons people pass on the right is because other people stay in the left-hand lane too long.

“I wonder how many crashes are caused by drivers weaving in and out, passing on the right, or following too close because of Left Lane Lollygaggers?” wrote Jim Clemmer.

Some thought that trucks and buses should be limited to the right-hand lane. Others said that wouldn’t work because the righthand lane is usually the most clogged up with snow and with vehicles trying to merge onto the highway.

Rose Mailloux tried to avoid the highway altogether by taking the train, although at first she found it difficult to get information.

She wonders why so much money is being spent to widen Highway 401.

“What our government needs to do is fast-track (pun intended) our train service to faster and more frequent trains,” she said.

Thank you all.