Spring driving in Nova Scotia requires a heightened level of care by drivers. In addition to the expected obstacle course of safely avoiding potholes, the warmer weather brings others onto the roads. Young children learning how to ride bicycles and otherwise present on some streets enjoying spring fever. Motorcyclists and cyclists are both getting their bikes out of winter storage and driving the roads, attempting to safely navigate the same potholes.
The unfortunate condition of many roads in Atlantic Canada has garnered wide attention. For example, each spring the Canadian Automobile Association Atlantic (CAA Atlantic) holds an annual Worst Roads in Atlantic Canada contest: https://www.atlantic.caa.ca/public-advocacy/worstroads.html. CAA Atlantic says its annual Worst Roads campaign provides a platform for Atlantic Canadians to make roads safer by telling municipal and provincial governments which roads need attention the most.
For whatever reason, perhaps this past winter’s freeze/ thaw cycle, the potholes and uneven roads in metro Halifax seem worse than usual. This perception is corroborated by a March 20, 2019 article from Global News titled “A thousand potholes left on Halifax Regional Municipality’s spring repair list”.
The number and depth of potholes present risks to Nova Scotians of vehicle damage and even injury. Drivers need to be aware that their efforts to avoid potholes drivers can impact others, especially pedestrians and cyclists, causing accidents and collisions. Spring time is a good reminder for all of us to drive with the utmost care. Lenehan Musgrave is proud to support organizations whose mandate is safe driving/ accident prevention, such as Bikers Down Society (“look twice to save a life”).
Please give yourselves more time to get to your destinations. Reducing your speed gives you more time to react to the perils of springtime driving in Nova Scotia and protect pedestrians and cyclists also sharing the road.
If you have been injured in an accident, please contact us to see how we can help.
