The number of PSAs about not getting mowed down during Halloween was absurd. 'Wear reflective vests', 'only cross the street in groups' - and not a single 'hey, it's Halloween and there's going to be excited kids everywhere - please avoid driving and if you have to, be super extra careful'.
My partner's idea, which I thought was brilliant, was that the speed limit on all residential streets should be dropped to 20km/h for the day.
The speed limit on all residential streets should be at the very most 30km/h year round. Since I started active commuting every day, I've noticed how alarmingly scary it is going 50 when I do have to drive. Reaction times at that speed do not allow for the amount of braking distance required.
The more I active commute, the more my distaste for driving grows. I don't really want to drive in a big downtown like Philly or Seattle again if I can help it. Its stressful and there are too many people around for everyone to take up one F-250, one Hummer, or one Escalade worth of space.
I don't understand all these PSAs. Nobody is trick or treating along a 45-55 mph suburban arterial. They're in the neighborhood. I don't care how fast people drive on the freeway as long as they're safe about it, but if you can't drive 25 in the neighborhood, you should be forever forced to park on a main road outside of it and walk in on foot.
There needs to be both. We had to drive because I'm disabled, and the number of people, adults and children, walking in the road wearing black or dark clothes was ridiculous.
I'm in the UK, and we've had horrible weather this week. It was dark, wet, and windy, and we passed dozens of families who were walking their kids out into the road without looking, dressed in the dark clothes I mentioned, and without a single light or reflective item between them.
This is without mentioning the dickheads who drive at 40 everywhere, or the moron who was driving with no lights.
Without meaning to sound like a miserable old man, there's no common sense.
make it legal for people to put holloween decorations in the street (with the understanding if you do the fire truck/ambulance is allowed to run them over if need be)
Most if not all residential streets in Canada are signed at 40kmph which is way to fast IMO. 30kmph is used near parks. Some residential streets though are starting to get dropped to 30kmph which is a good start. Though people here seem to always drive 20kmps above the limit without fail always.
IMO most streets in Canada are very inconsistent in design and speed limit implications. It would also be nice if we classified our streets, roads, high speed roads, and highways more efficiently. Instead somehow we get a sidewalk and bikepath along a highway?
I haven't had to take a driving test in over 20 years. Only once I had to take a multiple choice test on the meaning of various signs and you get three chances to pass it. It's absolutely absurd that they allow people to get their license at 16 and rarely have to retake a driving test.
In one of those situations only someone in a long term relationship can understand my wife was upset as I was not worried that she may be dead when I wake up. Please don't ask me to explain these kinds of things. The main point is I was saying I was worried about her when she is off driving someplace as that is the most dangerous period of time.