Bermuda Blue: Just imagine if the speed limit was higher...

Those who follow this column will know that I have issues with the state of the roads and the state of driving standards.

It never fails to surprise me.

A truck overtook me on a yellow line (only for me to catch him up all of three seconds later) and a car did the same thing, with the same result. I am not fast, but nor am I a snail.

On another occasion, an SUV overtook a line of cars by the airport, only for all of us to trail him/her most of the way to Hamilton.

Too much testosterone, guys? (What’s the equivalent for women?)

And why is it that cars simply cannot stop at the white line? Why do they have to go three feet beyond and force oncoming cars to swerve into the road?

When I came back to Bermuda, I had to take my driver’s test — fair enough. I did the parallel parking, reversing etc and then went out onto the streets of Hamilton with the instructor. 

As I travelled at what I thought was the 35kph speed limit, he asked: “Did you know the speed limit in Hamilton is 20kph?” No, I sighed, resigned to being failed.

I then stopped at a ‘stop’ white line. He asked: “Can you see?” I said: “Yeah, it’s okay.” He said: “Move over the white line if you want.” I obliged.

Getting back to TCD, as I pulled up, and before I had stopped, out jumped the instructor and said: “You’ve passed.” (I won’t tell you what else happened as I might get dragged back to TCD… )

I have no other experience, I don’t know what it’s like to be taught to drive on the island’s roads. Perhaps one of my readers could tell me if this is normal or not?

We never seem to get reports from the police about the number of cars involved in crashes, unless they are spectacular crashes, but you only have to drive past some of the garages to see how many wrecks there are.

We are fortunate that the speed limits here are so low. I dread to think what would happen if they were increased.

What do you think? Email [email protected] or tweet with him @jeremydeacon1
Bermuda Blue can be read at http://jeremydeacon.wordpress.com