Intersections

Question: I live in quiet little Summerland and my question is about right of way. Our busiest intersection is a T-junction complete with 3 cross walks. Traffic usually proceeds through that T junction at a very slow pace.

The case of Stempowicz v Dobbs involves a collision at the intersection of Veterans Memorial Parkway and Langford Parkway in Langford. Tienna Stempowicz was travelling northbound on Veterans Memorial Parkway  intending to turn left onto Langford Parkway.

Mirror, signal left, brake and stop before the marked stop line. Look left, look right and the pickup that was following behind stops ahead of me on my right, half on and half off the roadway, to make a right turn. Of course, I can't see cross traffic to my right properly, so he gets to go before I do.

Question: We have too many blind corners in our communities says a correspondent. They have seen many near misses because of fences, trees and hedges blocking the view of drivers who are attempting to turn onto a street.

Believe it or not, in British Columbia a yellow traffic light tells you that you must stop before you enter the intersection! Yes, I know that there is one caveat to that statement, and it is "unless the stop cannot be made in safety." The onus is on the driver that does not stop for the yellow light to show that it was unsafe if they are involved in court proceedings because of their decision.

A Courtenay resident is upset with drivers that turn left from the Island Highway onto Ryan Road and fail to enter the first available lane. He identifies this as a problem for drivers traveling in the opposite direction on the highway wanting to turn right onto Ryan Road. Who would be liable he wonders if the right turn vehicle failed to yield as directed by the sign and collided with a vehicle that had made the left turn into the curb lane instead of the lane next to the center line.

The case of Huang v Wamboldt involves a collision between a driver and a pedestrian at the intersection of East 3rd Avenue and Cotton Drive in Vancouver. Lily Huang was walking westbound on the north side of East 3rd Avenue crossing Cotton Drive and Dwight Wamboldt was driving eastbound on East 3rd Avenue intending to turn left onto Cotton Drive.

A driver from Rutland e-mailed with a concern regarding the intersection of Nickel Road and Highway 33. Highway 33 is five lanes wide with a two way left turn lane in the middle and Nickel Road is a two lane residential street. She regularly stops and waits to turn left off of Highway 33 onto Nickel Road and is horrified when through traffic on the highway stops to allow her to make the turn.

The case of White v Sidhu involves a collision at the intersection of 184th Street and 40th Avenue in Surrey. William White was driving his Dodge Ram northbound on 184th intending to turn left onto 40th. Amarjit Sidhu was driving her Honda Accord eastbound on 184th.

Part of Parachute Canada's Vision Zero Collection is an explanation of centerline hardening strategies that are intended to make intersections safer for pedestrians by reducing the turning radius for motor vehicles. The use of physical objects such as bollards, delineators or rubber curbs encourage drivers to make left turns at slower speeds.