Dear Editor:
Re: “Get to know the rules of the road,” Les Stulberg’s Pet Peeve column in the Jan. 16 edition of the Independent, pertaining to the intersection at Highway 56 and 44 Avenue in Stettler.
The column suggested, “Be sure you know the rules of the road,” when the writer himself had not bothered to educate himself before publishing his opinions.
The “rules” he speaks of is the Traffic Safety Act — Use Of Highway And Rules Of The Road Regulation, for the Province of Alberta.
Nowhere in this manual is there reference to it being required of a left-turning vehicle to sit for an hour at an intersection yielding to oncoming traffic.
In fact, there is nothing in this manual regarding two-way stops, at all.
If the writer had referred to the Traffic Safety Act, or even gone so far as to contact someone who knows something — like the Department Of Transportation — then perhaps he would have been able to deliver unbiased facts without prejudice, instead of boastful, ignorant assumptions.
For your information, after a left-turning vehicle has made a complete stop, he may proceed to execute his left turn when it is safe to do so, providing the intersection is clear.
So, while you’re making your complete three-second stop, Mr. Stulberg, I wonder how “obviously dissatisfied” you’ll be, watching me complete my legal left turn.
There is certainly a grey area pertaining to left turns and stops, according to any province’s Traffic Safety Act, that is meant to be filled with a great deal of courtesy and common sense.
For further clarification and proper interpretation of traffic rules, please call Don MacMillan, driver programs administrator — driver programs and licensing standards, Alberta Transportation — Traffic Safety Services, at 780-422-3817.
Sandy Clark,
Stettler