Castanet

Highway halts for ducklings

Traffic isn't all it's quacked up to be.

A mother duck and her brood of fuzzy ducklings brought a semi truck and other traffic to a standstill, Thursday, on busy Highway 97 in Vernon.

The feathered finery was captured on camera by Vernon photographer David Nagy.

Nagy says considerate drivers stopped in both directions on 32nd Street's Hospital Hill near Polson Park as the family made its way across the busy thoroughfare.

https://www.castanet.net/news/Vernon/197944/Highway-halts-for-ducklings
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Recall the female driver who stopped for the ducks to cross south of Montreal a year or so back, a motorcyclist and his child slammed into her vehicle and died rendering her a criminal.

A lack of due attention and diligence for the safety of all life by the motorcyclist is what killed he and his child.

The life affirming, compassionate and responsible behavior of this young women should be applauded, not made to be a crime.

This bit of news today is delightful to me because it is the right way to behave, it is the compassionate and intelligent way to respond to the life around us.

I am happy to see this type of people in my community.

Thank you to all those who exercised patience while the little ones crossed

BelieveNothing wrote:...
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Recall the female driver who stopped for the ducks to cross south of Montreal a year or so back, a motorcyclist and his child slammed into her vehicle and died rendering her a criminal.

A lack of due attention and diligence for the safety of all life by the motorcyclist is what killed he and his child.

Emma Czornobaj stopped in the left-hand lane (overtaking lane) on a 90km/h busy highway. She failed to make sure that it was safe to do so beforehand, and as a result of her negligence and the negligence of André Roy, both André and his daughter Jessie are dead. Saving ducks is laudable if done in a manner which does not endanger anyone else. Failing to behave in a safe manner on a highway is to be condemned and she deserved her 90 day jail time. Even her legal counsel agreed with that.

If you behave like this on the road, please get some advanced training and re-read the rules of the road before you contribute to an accident which may take someone's life.

common sense tells me that if you are paying attention and driving at a safe distance and speed there need be no injury or death.

Common sense tells me that only a human being with no sense would destroy life just because the speed limit finds it acceptable.

I cannot appreciate that the ducks were in the left lane or wrong lane no matter how I look at it, how could they possibly know it was the fast lane and against the law to move slowly or even stop!?

The women was completely in the right and served the 90 days to relieve herself of the psychopathy of the system.

Like I said, I am delighted that we have human beings around these parts who are willing to demonstrate their humanity and intelligence and stop for the innocent inhabitants of this planet.

BelieveNothing wrote:common sense tells me that if you are paying attention and driving at a safe distance and speed there need be no injury or death.

True, but common sense dictates that you don't stop in an overtaking lane with fast moving traffic. Two wrongs do not make a right.

Common sense tells me that only a human being with no sense would destroy life just because the speed limit finds it acceptable.

Common sense says that only a human being with no sense would significantly endanger their own life and the lives of others to go looking for ducks on a highway.

I cannot appreciate that the ducks were in the left lane or wrong lane no matter how I look at it, how could they possibly know it was the fast lane and against the law to move slowly or even stop!?

Yes, it wasn't the ducks' fault at all.

The women was completely in the right and served the 90 days to relieve herself of the psychopathy of the system.

You may feel that way, but even her own legal team felt she was in the wrong.

Like I said, I am delighted that we have human beings around these parts who are willing to demonstrate their humanity and intelligence and stop for the innocent inhabitants of this planet.

However you look at it, she was/is an idiot who endangered human lives to satisfy her heart's desire to save a few ducks. If she really wants to do this, she could do many other things which would have had had far greater impact on the lives of ducks and far less impact on the lives of two humans, their families and society on the whole.

Do you honestly, think that it is appropriate to significantly endanger other people to attempt to bring 7 ducklings home?
If you do, please do not drive, you are a danger to everyone around you

I agree with many of your points regarding the other incident Neilsimon however, I feel you are being a bit harsh in this particular incident.

Even though its a highway, at that particular spot the speed limit is only 50km/hr and is close to a traffic light where cars would have to stop eventually anyways. I'm sure the driver's took this into consideration.

I think the point being of the OP is its a light-hearted story that involves some passion and community spirit and brings a smile to his (and my) face with so much other negative news stories so readily available out there.

This is why we need a pedestrian overpass there - so ducks can use it too

I stopped for a mama duck and her babies to cross the road the other day. However, it was on a somewhat quieter road (Industrial Road in Penticton in front of the Honda Centre. There was luckily no one behind me, and the oncoming traffic spotted them as well.

That said, it is never wise to slow/stop for an animal(s) if the conditions do not permit.

You speak to YOU as the driver drivIng at a safe distance/speed. You neglect to consider those behind you. You can feel as delighted as you like, but it can be a real possibility that someone is going to slam into the back of you or evasively maneuver around you (possibly into oncoming traffic).

Of course if you're referring to your speed and distance, as long as you can safely stop before hitting an animal, fill your boots. Just make sure your decision is not in conflict with other drivers on the road.

While it it not by definitely illegal to stop on a roadway, you may be charged under the MVA (section 144(1)(b) driving without reasonable consideration for other persons using the highway).

I'm not disagreeing that it's not a feel good story and that we all shouldn't make the effort when safe.

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Loki2u wrote:I agree with many of your points regarding the other incident Neilsimon however, I feel you are being a bit harsh in this particular incident.

Even though its a highway, at that particular spot the speed limit is only 50km/hr and is close to a traffic light where cars would have to stop eventually anyways. I'm sure the driver's took this into consideration.

I think the point being of the OP is its a light-hearted story that involves some passion and community spirit and brings a smile to his (and my) face with so much other negative news stories so readily available out there.

I wasn't referring to the incident in Vernon and I do think that in slow traffic, it is quite different, especially if there is no traffic, or it can be safely warned to stop in time. But OP was championing a lady who contributed to the death of 2 people by stopping in the overtaking lane on a busy 90km/h highway