Accident drives safety concerns

By Richard Rolke - Vernon Morning Star Published: July 29, 2008

Another accident at a Vernon intersection has reignited the debate over safety precautions taken by the city. A Honda Civic smashed into a fence at 20th Street and 43rd Avenue Friday at 10 p.m., after being struck by a Mazda. “Maybe we will have to flip-flop a fourth time,” Coun. Barry Beardsell told his colleagues during Monday’s council meeting. Two weeks ago, a majority of council decided to spend $70,000 on wider lanes and a pedestrian-operated flashing light at the intersection, following a staff recommendation. This action was originally supported by council in May, but was briefly abandoned by the politicians in June when they agreed to install a four-way stop there instead. The city had received a 600-name petition demanding a four-way stop after cab driver Howard Collins was killed there in a two-vehicle accident April 20. Despite the latest accident, Coun. Jack Gilroy stands behind the installation of traffic-calming devices. “Our safety people have said put up blinking (pedestrian) lights,” he said. “People are going through stop signs and putting up more stop signs won’t help.”

Mayor Wayne Lippert says a four-way stop won’t guarantee there won’t be accidents. “People aren’t stopping at four-ways. They get used to them and people start using them incorrectly,” he said. Coun. Pat Cochrane agrees that some people abuse four-way stops, but they do provide a safety element. “People are stopped and they can see people coming,” he said. Friday’s accident occurred when a Mazda going southbound on 20th Street inched out across the intersection. It contacted an eastbound Honda Civic on 43rd Avenue, sending the Honda spinning into a fence and a fire hydrant. Three people, all between the ages of 19 and 22, were taken to Vernon Jubilee Hospital with minor injuries. It’s not believed that speed or alcohol were factors in the crash. No charges have been laid at this time.

Police are concerned about the number of accidents that occur at the intersection. “I know on 20th, traffic has increased dramatically over the last few years, and 43rd is a very busy intersection,” said Gord Molendyk, with the RCMP. “With the amount of accidents that have happened there, I think the engineering people will be sitting down and taking a very serious look at whether it requires a traffic light.” Molendyk isn’t sure if a four-way stop is the solution. “Sometimes a four-way stop, for the majority of people, does stop them, but doesn’t stop everyone,” he said. “There are some issues about sight lines, so, yes, that whole intersection is going to have to be seriously looked at.”