Editor:
Re: Steps across the spectrum, Jan. 22 letters.
I’d like to respond to this letter and come to the defence and give a voice to the younger generation.
Statistics could compile a greater spectrum of information to give a more accurate explanation for the bad driving habits of all drivers collectively, giving a better snapshot of the population overall that endanger public safety.
The spectrum analogy sounds rather presumptuous and political to me and puts me somewhere in the centre of a more linear perspective. The letter, however, cast the first stone to target young people who are self-centred and further speculates their inattention will inevitably result in an accident.
Saying young people are more likely to be presumptuous and careless may have some truth and we’ve all been young, regardless of our years. There is no excuse for irresponsibility, but young people don’t cause accidents – inattention causes accidents.
In a discussion on consideration as opposed to carelessness or even presumption, it would be more realistic to include a comprehensive age group. Differences in age shouldn’t be disparaged as polar opposites in that age-spectrum analogy.
I agree inattention is an important subject and should be treated seriously. There are so many distractions and making that the subject of a conversation may be a more constructive approach.
Passing judgment on young people for a lack of appropriate driving etiquette or for pedestrian safety shouldn’t be limited to a particular age group. All drivers in general have an increased responsibility to police their own actions while in control of a motor vehicle; a person’s age should not be a testimony to good or bad driving habits. There can be many contributing factors other than age responsible for inattention.
I’m pretty sure drivers of all ages and driving abilities are guilty of cellphone use.
In my opinion, questioning a person’s integrity as associated with their age is as relative as making any prejudicial statement, which in any such instance would have a negative outcome for any target audience, in this instance young people.
The words on the street here are consideration and self awareness – two human qualities to live by.
It’s true that thoughtless actions can have an unfortunate consequence. Everyone wants to have a sense of security while enjoying a walk and equally an act of courtesy is disarming. We have to remember, while security is something we unfortunately have to police, courtesy is a social grace and, more favourably, it is absolutely voluntary. Courtesy is a kindness to experience and not an opportunity to fault another.
Richard Palatinus, White Rock
