Harper Barrie
Phone and Address on file

Greetings to all of you travelling on motorized wheels. Whether you are driving around Oliver, within Oliver, to Oliver or from Oliver, this message is for you;

Many mornings on my way to my job as a nanny of two boys (both under the age of 4) I am passed by children bouncing happily on their way to school, teens making their slow, faces-glued-to-their-phones walk to the high school and lots of early risers out for a brisk jog or walking their dogs. Birds are singing, they sun is shining through the trees that are just beginning to blossom into one of the most beautiful times of the year. All is calm, serene and then VRRRRRRROOOOMMMMMM! The peace is assaulted by yet another vehicle that is not checking to see why on God’s beautiful green earth their muffler isn’t working as it should.

These drivers are not just loud, either. I would have much less to squabble about if they were. There are also the drivers that, regardless of the volume of their vehicles, have forgotten that there are in fact other people around them! Fellow drivers, cyclists, pedestrians and wildlife – not to mention all the domestic animals that wander around (especially with summer approaching). These ‘forgetful’ citizens cut others rudely off, race down streets much higher than the given speed limit and my favourite; thinking that by speeding up they can make it through an intersection before the helpless person crossing on foot can make it into their lane!! I cannot count how many times this has happened to me in this town. Osoyoos is no better for this particular crime as well.

I have been hit by mindless people backing up without taking a look. I have seen many drivers zipping through intersections without so much as a glance to either side, let alone slowing down for that big red octagon posted so neatly on the side of the road in plain view. Let’s not ignore those poor folks who just have to pass you on a corner with a solid line to get to the stop light 3 seconds faster than you…. Oh, and there is that little law about texting while driving – does anyone remember that? From what I’ve seen it is all but forgotten! Must be another effect of this strange wave of forgetfulness sweeping over this town!!

Now, before you all think I’m some kind of overreacting fusspot, let’s get down to the reasons behind my complaints. As I said, I nanny for 2 toddlers that love to go for walks. I have a brother that walks to elementary school and is only turning 7 this month. I myself enjoy biking and am a big advocate for walking more in general. I have elderly grandparents here, too. The streets in Oliver are not safe thanks to drivers like I’ve described. I grew up in this town and have experienced all these things first hand for years and years. It’s sad to think that this town’s general driving population only seems to forget more and more rules and regulations of the roads – even public courtesy is disappearing. One of the worst spots in town for these types of actions is Station Street. Children on their way to the library in large classes, people hoping in and out of their cars as they shop at the hardware store, forklifts carrying large loads off of delivery trucks. The place is busy enough as it is! The last thing we need are vehicles racing through the intersection and roaring down the road just because they think they can “get away with it”.

One of these days someone is going to get seriously injured there; who shall it be, Oliverites? A 3rd grader who tripped on his untied shoelace and fell into traffic? Perhaps an elderly woman who loses her footing while returning a novel… or a 20-something putting some lumber into his pick-up for that project he’s helping his dad on. I know I don’t want it to be any of them – or anyone else! Please, please remember to SLOW DOWN, FOLLOW THE RULES AND HAVE SOME COMMON DECENCY!

Concerned Citizen

p.s. Thankfully there are a few people who are immune to that “forgetfulness flu” that has been going around. I myself am studying for my Learner’s and can only hope that I can get immunized as well. Hats off to the GOOD drivers to Oliver! BRAVO!!