Newsflash! Local TV News Is Idiotic

Thanks to Patrick for telling me about this.

CTV Southwestern Ontario (formerly known as CKCO) reported on the new roundabout in Waterloo at the intersection of Margaret and Union. If you were to listen to their story, apparently it's chaos and disaster here as everyone is having trouble negotiating this new fangled roundabout. Check out their news report video here. Pay close attention to when the "reporter" said that the bus got stuck and having trouble. The thing is that the video shows the bus moving quite smoothly around the roundbout. Granted, the bus is travelling slower than it would at a normal intersection, but that's exactly what is supposed to happen... for every vehicle. Besides, if the bus driver misjudged the turn, the centre island is constructed to be mountable so large vehicles (buses, trucks, firetrucks, etc) can make the turn.

That brings me to the morons who cut straight over the centre island (apparently there's no rule that says you have to be smart to drive a smartcar). One of two things is happening here... it is a new roundabout and this could be those drivers' first time through it. If so, they're sure to not make the same mistake next time. Or the other possibility is that these drivers are the same ones that'll race through a just-turned-red light, or roll through a stop sign, or use highway onramps as passing lanes. There's just no way to completely idiot proof our roadways.

I don't know why CKCO is so anti-roundabout. They have been since the beginning. Are they simply that ignorant, or simply trying to get viewers riled up in an attempt to get ratings. Probably a little of both. The bottom line is that roundabouts, when used properly, are efficient and safe. We just need people to learn how to drive. You wouldn't be given a licence if you didn't know what the colours on the traffic signals meant, so what excuse is there to not know the rules of a roundabout.

I hope we see many, many more roundabouts in Waterloo region, and hopefully it spreads across the province.