Corner needs four-way stop

Published: July 24, 2008 Morning Star

On behalf of Vernon Taxi, we would like to thank the community for all the support they have given us through the hard times of coping with the recent death of our driver and good friend, Howard Collins. We were overwhelmed by all the support we have received from well wishers as well as donations for the family. In the last two months, one of our drivers, Crystal Smith, used every minute of her free time to petition for a four-way stop at 43rd Avenue and 20th Street to hopefully prevent another fatality. This neighbourhood has had a number of accidents over the years, one home owner on the corner keeps a first aid kit by her front door in case there is, once again, another accident. The people in the neighbourhood have tried to get something done about the dangerous intersection, but nothing has been done thus far.

Initially, the city opposed the four-way stop that was requested, but with the help of the community, we collected over 600 signatures to try and convince the city to change their decision. We were excited, and relieved, to finally read in the paper that our efforts had paid off, and that the city had decided to finally grant our request. Now we are shocked to see that once again the plans have been changed, and there will be no four-way stop. Over the past few months, newspaper articles regarding the four-way stop have been argued back and forth. First, they proposed to narrow the roads, by adding a bicycle lane, to slow down traffic. So which makes it a safer place to drive? Wider or more narrow?

The latest article, on July 16, was a slap in the face as the words read, "We're not dealing with a lot of traffic. We're dealing with the error in judgment from one driver." City of Vernon "transportation specialist called the accident "random" and that we "should not over-react." Obviously, he or she does not live in that area. Something should have been done about that intersection years ago, yet the neighbourhood is still waiting. A four-way stop would have been the cheapest and fastest way to deal with the bad situation. Of course the tragic death of one of our own is the main reason for our involvement, but the truth of the matter is that there have been a number of accidents at the intersection in the past. A recent article has said "residents have been calling for a four-way stop at the intersection for years, saying there have been more unreported accidents at the intersection than ICBC or RCMP statistics show." If something isn't done about it, there may be more. It was also said, "staff has suggested that some people tend to run four-way stops if there aren't other vehicles at the intersection." If this is true, why would people stop for flashing lights? There have been unnecessary four-way stops put up all over town recently, why was this done if people can't stop for them? Even so, what is the harm in another four-way stop? But I guess while city staff "continue to monitor pedestrian and vehicular operations over the next year" we can only hope that there will be no more fatalities on that corner. The fact that taxi drivers are on the road for 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year, in my mind, makes them the "transportation experts" and maybe the city should sometimes listen to the working class instead of politicians.

We still feel that a four-way stop will be the most efficient, knowing that it will not stop all future accidents in this neighbourhood, but if nothing else, it will slow people down. The fact is, had there been a four-way stop before Howard's accident, even though the alleged drunk driver allegedly ran the stop sign, Howard would have stopped because he was definitely sober. With a four-way stop, there may be a life saved next time, rather than another fatality.

Jana Ingram,
Manager of Vernon Taxi