Drive

    Every once in a while I am ashamed of my species. Actually that happens quite often but that's a rant for another day. One of our daughters is learning to drive which means that my husband and I are being driven around our neighbourhood as often as possible by a new but enthusiastic and careful driver. I am saddened to report the number of times that she has been tailgated and/or sworn at for doing the speed limit. We have an L on our car which means that a learning driver is operating the vehicle. We live in a rural area which is close to a busy suburb but relatively quiet. The speed limit is 60 km per hour and she is going 60 or slightly over. Did I mention that we have an L on our car? I am shocked that people would take the time to pull around the vehicle, roll down the window and yell "F#&k you!" to a teenager while she is attempting this new, difficult and potentially dangerous task. I really am appalled.
    The driving courtesy that we experienced in places like Australia and Scotland was so exceptional. My husband felt like a new driver, driving an unfamiliar car on new roads, on the opposite side of the street in the seemingly wrong side of the car. But people were kind, courteous and patient, no matter how many times that we went around the roundabout. Why does it seem as if Canadian drivers are getting ruder and more impatient? Maybe our city is getting more crowded and our roads busier. Or perhaps I am just getting to be an old lady, one embarrassed by human beings who are giving the rest of us a bad name....