About 2,000 people follow @RichmondDrivers, a local Twitter account documenting driving goof-ups in the city. The person behind the account — a 28-year-old, 20-year resident of Richmond and marketing expert — spoke to the Richmond News on Sea Island to discuss the decision to highlight the issue.
News: How did you get started?
@RichmondDrivers: A lot of people, when they drive, they get angry and I’m not the type of person who would try to get angry. But, if I feel like I want to be mad at someone, I try to make fun of them instead so...
News: You noted half of the bad drivers you see are non-Asian.
@RichmondDrivers: On the road I see bad driving from everyone. There is no clear definition of a bad driver. It’s not gender, race; it’s not even age.
News: What is it about the race card that seems to perpetuate this and other social media accounts?
@RichmondDrivers: I don’t know really, but maybe it’s just luck and coincidence that a city already known for bad driving turned out to be the biggest destination for Chinese immigrants. It’s perception more than anything.
News: Have people taken it out of context?
@RichmondDrivers: Someone accused me of being racist, which is ridiculous because Richmond is only half Asian. If you equate Richmond (and the Twitter account) with Asians then you’re the one who is probably racist.
.@CanuckleBrett If you equate "Richmond" with a certain race, then I question who's the racist one here.
— Richmond Drivers (@RichmondDrivers) August 20, 2014
News: You lived in Korea and have travelled Asia. Tell me about the driving culture there.
@RichmondDrivers: I never considered driving there because I never understood the driving culture. My family came from Hong Kong so I’ve seen driving culture in multiple (Asian) countries. And in each one, while you might be a good driver in Canada, over there you could be a hazard because you don’t know how people operate.
News: Could it work vice-versa?
@RichmondDrivers: Absolutely. It doesn’t surprise me. In China and Asia people seem to know what’s around them, but here there’s not that built-in radar. Here, everyone’s expected to stay in their lanes.
News: Tell me about one particular stunner.
@RichmondDrivers: There was a sedan and the guy wanted to fit the whole fridge in the trunk. The fridge was halfway in and halfway out secured by a bungee cord and the backseat seatbelts. I give him creative points for use of the seatbelts but no points for safety.
News: Tell me about a moment where you became seriously concerned
@RichmondDrivers: I guess when the Railway greenway was turned into a jogging path. I've seen many many cars try to turn on to that. At first it's like, okay that's kind of stupid, and then you see children on the path and that's not good. Also, I turned from No. 1 Road to Westminster Highway and there was a car going the wrong way; that's probably not something you should be doing.
News: Richmond's getting older. Could this be a concern too?
@RichmondDrivers: It could be. I don't know the science behind reaction time looks like but I do have a dad who's quite old and I do notice he tends to do some things he normally wouldn't have done 10 years ago, like drifting into the next lane or not being in the right lane when he turns.
News: With more traffic congestion coming into the city, is there light at the end of this tunnel?
@RichmondDrivers: Not until the examination standards get tougher. Another thing I could blame is the population getting bigger and bigger, but the roads are not growing with the population. ...If anything they’re moving backwards. I mean, look what they’re doing to River Road.
