So, Toronto is the North American capital of speed traps, according to a survey by the National Association of Motorists.
We apparently have more reported speed trap locations than Los Angeles, Montreal and New York City - COMBINED.
Is any driver familiar with the GTA surprised at this?
No.
And any driver familiar with the GTA and also familiar with driving in other major North American jurisdictions (like, ahem, me) will tell you we have among the worst drivers on the continent.
Still, the cops keep running radar and laser, up to THREE TIMES as frequently as other major metropolitan areas.
One definition of insanity is you keep doing the same thing over and over, and expecting a different result.
There you go.
Now, Sgt. Tim Burrows of the Toronto Traffic Services was quoted by CTV News as saying that Toronto has one of the lowest traffic injury and fatality rates of the top cities.
Are we THREE TIMES better?
Than, e.g., Los Angeles? American seat belt wearing rate versus our own? Hello?
And of course, that Prince Edward Viaduct, scene of a notorious fishing hole just about every Saturday morning, would be complete chaos without the constant radar because of the dangers posed by all those intersections (none), all those stores (none), all those houses (none), all those schools (none).
Scarlett Road. Allen Expressway. Yonge Street past the Mount Pleasant Cemetery. The list goes on. Nothing whatsoever to do with traffic safety.
C'mon, Sgt. Burrows - do you take us for idiots?
Well, you certainly do 'take' us.
Police chiefs in Toronto have been whining to municipal officials since time immemorial for a bigger budget, for more officers, to combat crime, get the guns off our streets and out of our schools, battle real criminals. Most of the cops I've spoken with would much rather be doing just that - real police work - than glorified Green Hornet duty. Real police work is what they signed up for, what they're trained to do, why they cost so much.
With a fishing hole needing anywhere up to eight officers - sometimes half of which are giving tickets to people who are warning other drivers of the fishing hole (which, apparently, I DO have to mention again, is patently NOT illegal) - well, Chief Blair, I think I just found you your additional, um, 'person-power'.
