A typical morning on the Macdonald bridge linking Halifax and Dartmouth. Photo by Francis Campbell // The ChronicleArticle contentI have noticed that whenever someone makes recommendations to fix or mitigate a community problem, such as our issues with the health-care system, seniors care, public services, traffic congestion, et cetera, they never, ever seem to assign any personal responsibility to all those who benefit from or use those services.THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY.Subscribe now to access this story and more:Unlimited access to the website and appExclusive access to premium content, newsletters and podcastsFull access to the e-Edition app, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment onEnjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalistsSupport local journalists and the next generation of journalistsSUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES.Subscribe or sign in to your account to continue your reading experience.Unlimited access to the website and appExclusive access to premium content, newsletters and podcastsFull access to the e-Edition app, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment onEnjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalistsSupport local journalists and the next generation of journalistsRegister to unlock more articles.Create an account or sign in to continue your reading experience.Access additional stories every monthShare your thoughts and join the conversation in our commenting communityGet email updates from your favourite authorsSign In or Create an AccountorArticle contentAnd yet, many of us taking personal responsibility can certainly alleviate or mitigate some of these problems.Article contentArticle contentArticle contentTraffic congestion has been identified as a problem in Halifax. A letter writer this very week made various recommendations to mitigate the problem. He never, however, suggested personal driver responsibility as part of the solution.Article contentI am guessing that the average driver could easily eliminate at least one third of their total driving by better planning and better discipline.Article contentFor example, they could shop at Costco only once per week instead of three times. They could walk instead of drive from the deep south end of Halifax to Sobeys on Queen Street to purchase a few items. They can walk to Timmies to get their coffee fix instead of driving twice a day. Or they can carpool. Or they can make their child walk to school instead of driving them.Article contentThere are many other situations that would keep the car in the driveway.Article contentTaking personal responsibility can mitigate the traffic congestion problem. However, many choose not to act responsibly simply because of selfishness or a lack of personal discipline.Article contentArticle contentIt’s therefore difficult for me to have any sympathy for many of the drivers in Halifax who are complaining and yet are a big part of the problem.Article contentDon Dougherty, HalifaxArticle contentArticle contentDig deeper into ‘disappearing’ summer jobsArticle contentIn recent weeks there have been a handful of news stories in various media regarding the “disappearing” summer job.Article contentThis trend, which is essentially the growing difficulty that young adults aged 18-25 are having in securing temporary employment during the summer months, is often explained away by the media through an incomplete reporting of facts. Often, the reasons given for this trend, such as increases in employer costs, increases to the minimum wage and demand for more hours by current employees, serve to reinforce the perception that the trend is due to a spontaneously occurring market force, as opposed to a strategic one shared by the federal government and businesses big and small.
VOICE OF THE PEOPLE: HRM drivers big contributors to traffic congestion
