The Omnifarium - Toronto/LambsAndLions.html

Of Lambs and Lions

Tue, 01 Mar 2005, 22:03

If the old adage is true, then this March must surely go out like a lamb. The snow storm was originally predicted to be much worse, but March this year still came in like a lion, with a dumping of fresh, soggy snow.

Since I already took two days off work this winter due to snow, I felt I had to go to work today in spite of the snow. Normally, my drive to work takes around 35 minutes, but today it took me twice as long. Much of the extra time was spent crawling along Lawrence Avenue east of McCowan. Although the grade is gentle along that stretch, and most cars could easily handle the conditions, a few drivers were spinning their wheels making things difficult for the rest of us.

Now then, for the benefit of those unfamiliar with winter driving in Canada, here's a pop quiz. When your wheels are spinning on a slippery road, do you: (a) step on the gas to make the wheels spin faster? or (b) ease up on the gas and let the wheels slow down until they can get some traction? Hopefully this morning, a few drivers on Lawrence Avenue learned a useful practical lesson about driving at this time of the year.

One more thing I witnessed this morning. Around 8AM while driving northbound on Birchmount, I had to stop for a school bus with its red lights flashing. But idiot drivers on the southbound lanes kept going in spite of the risk of getting a stiff fine and six demerit points. If that wasn't bad enough, one of the crazy drivers ignoring the flashing lights was driving another school bus. (sigh)

Hans

path: /Toronto | permanent link to this entry