0 Avenue Facebook group shows young drivers' scary side
My Web Slingin' column in today's Abby Post should send a chill down the spine of every 0 Avenue user. Here it is:
A small Facebook group offers a frightening glimpse into the mindset of some of the young drivers who regularly use 0 Avenue.
The "0 and 16th Ave Speeders" are a group of about a dozen people who "admit to speeding on those roads." Some of their comments should worry you.
"I must admit I like doing between 90 and 100 ks," wrote the group's founder, Richard Allegretto. "Speeding is only dangerous if you drive like an idiot while doing it, if everyone is doing the same speed and not weaving in and out of traffic, things should go just fine!"
The group is paying a price for their speed, however, with expensive speeding tickets on the rise. "I recently got a ticket on Zero... my first in more than 10 years... for $483.00... I thought I was on candid camera... I didn't know tickets could be that much... Anyway needless to say, I'm fighting it," wrote Tara Binder.
"Yeah I got a 345.00 ticket just where Zero Ave. ends in Abbotsford, it's so ridiculous just about everybody does 100k along there," added Allegretto.
"I have received two speeding tickets on 0 Ave.," said Cammy Majore-Doerksen.
The group has become a place to brag about top speeds and skid marks. "I crashed my brand new car on 0 Ave. last year," said Amanda Erickson. "I drive it everyday at 5 in the morning going to Delta and I think I have gotten up to about 140 or so. What a great drive!"
"I have been speeding on 0 Ave. for almost three years in my commute from Aldergrove to Richmond. I have reached speeds of over 140 km/h and have now talked my way out of two speeding tickets and one passing on a double line. I believe that 0 Ave. is very safe as there are only driveways and roads entering from the north," said Ahli Baba.
Lest you think it's all just bragging and bravado in this group, there are important public policy discussions going on. A few years ago, Langley Township raised several intersections along 0 to encourage drivers to slow down. How are those working for these drivers?
"I love taking 0 Ave. It's my favorite stretch of road ever," wrote Jessie Scott. "The 'raised intersections' make it even more fun! I don't endanger myself or others, but I do like to go fast on it. Ok, I like to SPEED on it!"
"The speed bumps only annoy me when you are stuck behind somebody that thinks they need to slow down to 20 kms to make it over them safely, top speed over the bumps for me has been 140 and yes it is fun!" said Allegretto.
Drive safe, everyone.