Sync lights and ease gridlock

Re Redirect city’s parking profits to transit, Sept. 18 Toronto and most southern Ontario cities have a fixation with putting up more and more stop signs and lights and then not syncing them. This creates massive gridlock issues and of course cars idling. It takes time to get cars moving and then less than 10 seconds later you have to stop again. Keeping cars moving keeps drivers more aware and less distracted and frustrated.

Vietnam has very few red lights and one city, Dalat, has none. Yet people are not killing each other including pedestrians and traffic generally moves. Scotty Robinson, Toronto Please, let’s bring back the vehicle registration tax. It is a small amount (one tank of gas?) for car-owners to contribute toward effective public transit that supports everyone’s needs. This is a desperately congested city. Peter Farncombe, Toronto Re Ontario, it’s time to get angry and stamp out distracted driving, Wheels

Sept. 17 Ontario’s current penalties for distracted driving are not a deterrent because drivers who text and drive do not plan on getting caught. Furthermore, they are in a frame of mind that texting and staying connected takes priority over safe driving. As far as an accident goes, they think it won’t happen to them.

If a driver gets caught with alcohol in their car, the alcohol is confiscated. Same with a gun. The police should have the authority to confiscate cellphones — regardless of the baby pictures, job resume or important contacts — and the drivers can have their day in court to have it returned.

Only then will distracted drivers take the law seriously. Peter H. Breidon, Mississauga