Random observations from Highway 103

So here you are, driving along Highway 103 on your way to Halifax and your mind is bouncing all over the place, taking an inventory of all the things you may want to discuss. There are many things to observe on this particular trip and your mind makes mental notes of all the noteworthy issues. In the end, you’ve managed to come up with 10 random observations from the 103.

1.There was a time not too many years ago when the roadsides were in deplorable shape with the bushes reaching all the way to the edge of the pavement. In recent years, however, the crews from the Department of Transportation and Infrastructure or contractors they’ve hired have done a commendable job clearing away the bushes and undergrowth. This needed to be done for safety reasons and now, while there may still be some locations that still require a good cleaning, the situation is a far better sight and is making the highway safer for those in the vehicle and the wildlife that often ventures on the highway.

2. I’ve noted the number of transport trucks on the road these days is staggering, accounting for a large percentage of the traffic volume. This reality makes me think of those days when the trains transported goods and people along the South Shore to Halifax and back home again. I remember it was a sad day in the early 1980s when the rail service was discontinued and the tracks were pulled up. Just think how much traffic could have been diverted from the highway if the train service was still in place, to say nothing of the positive impact the rail service would have on the environment.

3. The new twinned highway from Upper Tantallon to Hubbards has made a huge difference for commuters heading to and from Halifax. The daily traffic volume on this stretch of highway especially between Exits 5 and 6 has increased dramatically in recent years making this project a necessity. But what about places where twinning is not likely to happen for many years? Ideally, we all agree we would like to see twinning along the entire route but that isn’t going to happen for some time, so in the meantime, safety must be the top priority. This could be accomplished in several ways but one suggestion is for drivers to use common sense and exercise caution while on the road. Simply stated, drive as if yours and the lives of others on the road depend upon it because they do.

4. I noticed an increased presence of the RCMP patrolling the highway, which is a good thing because, honestly, if you don’t break any rules of the road then you have nothing to worry about. Right? But seriously, on this recent trip to Halifax I noted four RCMP cruisers on the highway between Bridgewater and Halifax, one of which had another motorist pulled over. Let’s all just say thank you to those brave officers for doing their jobs and trying to make our roads safer for all of us.

5. While on the topic, don’t forget that if you see the police have another motorist pulled over to the side of the road or any emergency vehicle pulled over, you must slow down and pass cautiously to give these emergency personnel the room to safely do their jobs. Sadly, I noted, not everyone does that but it is the law and you can face stiff fines if you don’t do this.

6. Speaking of being pulled over to the side of the road, imagine my surprise when I spotted an older model, black half-ton truck pulled over to the shoulder and the driver standing alongside his vehicle having a pee. Yep. There he was in broad daylight, in the middle of the afternoon standing right there on the shoulder of the road taking care of business. I was shocked, to say the least, but this was not the first time I’ve seen this. I appreciate when nature calls sometimes you just can’t wait but I wondered why this guy couldn’t have dashed into the nearby bushes. Afraid of ticks, I surmised.

7. The number of potholes on Highway 103 in places where the pavement has broken away and the problem has been exacerbated during the winter months seems to increase with every trip I make. There are many areas between Liverpool and Halifax where the highway could benefit from a little bit of patch paving. And is it just me or does your vehicle seem to find every pothole out there as well? Seems to me my car has a way of finding them all.

8. One of my biggest complaints about driver safety has to do with motorists not using their signal lights when making a turn. This is a particularly troublesome trend on the 103 when driver safety should be your top priority. Come on drivers. Is it really that difficult to remember to use your blinker when you are making a turn?

9. As I’m driving along the 103, I noted several vehicles pulled over the shoulder of the road for whatever reason, but

I was guessing that many of these motorists had stopped to answer their phones or to make a call. In some cases, these vehicles were not stopped in the best locations and, in fact, actually posed a safety hazard, which means while they were following the laws when it pertains to using hands-free devices, they now became another problem. All of this prompted me to conclude road safety could be improved with more roadside stopping places. It’s just a thought but in the meantime, if you have to pull over to use your phone, don’t do it on a blind corner or in highly congested traffic areas.

10. We know that twinning is on everyone’s mind these days, but there are other ways to improve highway safety and one way is for drivers to slow down, obey the rules and exercise some care and caution. Weaving in and out of the long lines of traffic does nothing to improve road safety but puts everyone’s life at risk. It may be an old cliché but you really are taking your life into your hands when you get behind the wheel of a vehicle so please use your head and exercise caution. The life you save may be your own.

So that was my recent trip to Halifax and during the commute, I was reminded just how important the transportation system in our day-to-day existence. I also understand while the roads are far from perfect, road safety is a shared responsibility. We have a lot riding on our four wheels and we all have a role to play in our own safety and the safety of others, or at least that’s the view from here (the 103).