The law of the weakest

vbaleha – stock.adobe.com

Marc Lachapelle

Tuesday, December 12, 2017 08:43

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Tuesday, December 12, 2017 08:43

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To my eyes, the principle is simple and should always be top of the list to humans, to these animals, supposedly intelligent than we are : the great protect the small, the strong protect the weak. Without exception. Final Point. Small phrases that I have repeated to my children when they were small. To others, also.

I recently released this old phrase for my grandson, who is four and a half years. I said to him, softly : “the great protect the small,” one of those rare times where he rushed his little sister. Just a little bit, without really doing it on purpose. Without realizing his strength or be aware of its size and its weight. To tell the truth, it is rather him that he must protect, on the occasion, the anger of his blond tornado of big sister, the more often frustrated not to be as big and strong as him. At least not yet.

Threats on wheels

On the road, it is the same thing. It should always be fully aware of be at the controls of a machine that the mass of one, two, three or more tons, multiplied by its velocity, can wreak havoc incredible when it encounters an object, whatever it is. Imagine when it comes to a living being without this shell of metal, plastic, and glass that inspires us, sometimes an exaggerated sense of confidence and security.

Or this dangerous sense of invulnerability that seem to feel it, too many drivers of pickups. More they are big, the more the driving is aggressive and ruthless, often.

This feeling, I know, and I’ve experienced driving large vans. For the good and simple reason that it is real, if one considers the effects and harms of the size and the exceptional weight of these vehicles, in the event of a collision. And all the more dangerous that these same characteristics also affect their ability to braking and avoidance. It must be always fully aware.

I have to say, I am quite proud of the government of this province that will soon implement a reform of the code of road safety, which aims to better protect the weakest and most vulnerable on the streets, roads, sidewalks, and bike paths.

The cyclists were the first to benefit, with the minimum margin of 1.5 m that must always be maintained for the double. This will now be the turn of the pedestrians have the rights to, among other measures. And it is so much better. I say this as a cyclist and pedestrian. As a driver, I will obey these rules scrupulously. Promised, swore. As I know myself, I’ll probably be a little more even.

Walenga, Stanislav – stock.adobe.com

The challenge of impatience

At the wheel, it is obviously necessary to be doubly or triply careful, prudent and patient, especially with those who have less strength, agility or quickness. Or, at the other extreme, the young children who run around and frolic in the streets. And not just the night of Halloween.

Anger is a very bad advisor, when one is at the wheel. And the impatience is his mother. Or a close cousin. I am well placed to talk about it, because I’m working to overcome or, better still, to defuse my impatience behind the wheel for a few decades now. Always in a hurry on the road, like most of us.

It is a battle that is never quite won. Especially when you love good cars, the performance and the speed that I like. For all these things, there are the circuits, that I still have the chance to attend regularly due to my job. They are fortunately more and more numerous to make available, at little cost, for this kind of exercise.

On the road, the car is fully autonomous we are talking about constantly would solve the issue. Except that I don’t have even the slightest bit of envy. I too love driving to give it up and I intend to take all honest means to continue to merit this privilege. Including to ride as slowly as necessary, in places, to maintain perfect security. These are the graces that I wish you, I wish all of us. Because I’m certainly not the only one of my camp.

Hey, I take this opportunity to wish you a beautiful Holiday season, filled with joy, fun and safety. Wherever you are and wherever you go, in this country, which is often the most beautiful in the world. Run, walk, ride in peace. Also call Operation Red Nose in need.