Police should set good example on roads

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I have to admit that I made a conscious decision to disobey a couple of traffic laws the other day.

I disregarded the speed limit and failed to keep to the right lane. I didn't think that the failing to keep right would be an issue because I was pacing a marked police vehicle that I knew was not responding to an emergency.

As with many readers, it has always been a sore point with me when I know that the people who are charged with enforcing the laws were not prepared to follow those laws themselves.

While I do make mistakes, I did my best to follow the rules because I felt that I could not write violation tickets if I was not prepared to be an example.

This marked police vehicle was not being a good example as the driver was consistently 15 to 20 km/h over the speed limit if there was no overtaken traffic to slow down for. The vehicle also never vacated the left hand lane at any time during the five kilometres or so that I followed along behind.

Do as I say, not as I do.

What does one do? Grumble like I did and carry on? Complain to the head of the detachment and hope that something is done?

Perhaps you can write about it like this and hope that the officer will see themselves in the narrative and decide to do as I say and as I do.

For more information on this topic, visit www.drivesmartbc.ca. Questions or comments are welcome by e-mail to comments@drivesmartbc.ca. Tim Schewe is a retired RCMP constable with many years of traffic law enforcement experience. His column appears Friday.