Write@Home
Winter 2015

Driving

Toronto, Canada - 2 July 2016: Toronto streetcar system is operated by Toronto Transit Commission (T

When I arrived in Canada 3 years ago, I landed downtown Toronto. Living close to the workplace, parks, and grocery stores was a huge advantage over other places. The public transit was essentially my only way to commute. It was the cheapest alternative to owning or renting a car. A lot of people might disagree with me, but I think Toronto Transit is reliable with buses, streetcars, and subways despite delays due to weather conditions or mechanical issues.

I recently moved to GTA to an area a bit far from most of the amenities like schools, restaurants, and shopping. Even though TTC still delivers service to my new place, making full use of public transit to get around is less achievable. That is why I decided to buy a car to make it easier for me.

The reality of driving in Canada compared to my home country is completely different. You must be very careful. One thing is to follow road signs but not everyone does. For example, only a few drivers obey the speed limit. You are literally insulted on the road when you stay within the speed limit. In this case, you can easily explain why there are so many vehicle accidents on the road. I think safe driving should not be the exception but the rule. I encourage the province to invest more in educating people on road safety and to increase fines for those who intentionally choose to break the rules.