RE: Highlands residents take a stand against aggressive motorists (Gazette, Aug. 18)
I saw the article in the Goldstream News Gazette regarding traffic on the Ross Durrance Road.
I have lived in the west Highlands for 14 years and I have seen the traffic increase dramatically over the time we have resided here. Many of the drivers pay no attention to posted speed limits nor do they slow down or pass wide for pedestrians, equestrians, cyclists or deer that browse the grass on the side of the road.
I no longer feel comfortable riding my horse down Millstream Road even for a short distance. I have had people drive way too close and well over the posted speed limit, and even honk their horn as they drive by. I have had people yelling out the window as they go by or revving their vehicle engine as they go by me – it’s sad to think that they think this is funny. I wear a bright visible vest with the words “please slow down and pass wide” when I ride or hand walk my horse, although it’s doubtful it helps. It seems that drivers have no idea the damage a 1,100 pound horse will do to a vehicle if they are spooked. Not to mention the rider would be severely hurt or killed and the horse would probably have to be euthanized.
The few drivers that do slow down and pass wide, I happily wave and thank.
My husband and I don’t even want to walk the dog on Millstream Road, as people come around the blind corners, and often their tires touch the gravel, sending it flying.
Friday and Saturday nights are the worst, we hear people screeching tires and revving engines well into the night on our local roads. Just take a walk around and you will be able to see all the tire marks from drivers screeching their tires. It seems to us that they drive up here because there is a lack of law enforcement so they often come up here to race.
I have been passed countless times on Millstream Road on corners and where there is a solid line while driving my car as well as the truck and horse trailer. The road rage we see up here on a daily basis is unbelievable. If you plan on driving close to the posted speed limit then you may expect to have a driver either yelling, making hand gestures, honking their horn, tailgating, or revving their engine to get you to speed up, or move over so they can roar by.
I hope the RCMP, ICBC and our Highlands council can work together to give us our roads back, so we can enjoy walking them again and feel safe doing so. I know a number of Highlands residents would be happy to be able to walk our roads again without worrying about vehicles driving by them at excessive speeds.
Laura Foxgord
Highlands