I read a note from Ian Wickett the other day about the number of near-miss accidents he has witnessed at the intersection between the Trans-Canada Highway and Shuswap Street.
I completely agree.
Since the city re-structured the intersection, there is one lane for left-turn only while the other lane is for right turns and straight through. This is different than many other intersections in town, and there is perpetual confusion from drivers. I’ve been honked at a number of times because I’m waiting to go straight through and drivers turning right get annoyed because they want to make their turn and don’t understand that it isn’t for right turns only.
I’ve also seen a near collision when left turn drivers, do not expect drivers to be going straight through the intersection and turn in front of oncoming traffic.
Yes, there are lines and arrows painted on the road, but if it is winter, they are often obscured by snow or if there is a car idling at the light, it covers up the painted directions.
The city did put up some signs on Shuswap Street as you approach the intersection in an attempt to clarify things, but they are simply too out-of-the-way to register with most drivers.
Wickett’s solution is to put directional signs up above the traffic lights themselves.
It’s a simple solution that would go a long way towards clearing up driver confusion and possibly even save some ugly fender-benders or potentially a more serious collision.
Whether it be the city’s jurisdiction or the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure, our municipal officials need to put this idea in drive and get on with it.
My other beef with drivers these days, isn’t really about their driving, but about their passengers.
If you bring a canine companion along with you, remember nearly every Shuswap summer day is too hot to leave an animal in a vehicle. Heatstroke can develop within minutes and even with water in the car, dogs can quickly become incapacitated and die.
I am already tired of hearing the “hot dog” calls that come through on our police scanner. And because, technically a person who breaks into a car to rescue an overheated canine can be charged with an offence, bystanders are often left standing and watching as they wait for the RCMP or SPCA to arrive.
Salmon Arm Citizens on Patrol is planning a public awareness campaign on this issue, as is it increasingly taking up police time.
Having gone to a few of these calls myself, I can assure you it is a deeply distressing thing to watch a dog becoming overheated through the windows of a locked car. I do not blame anyone who would act to rescue an animal under such circumstances, but the law dictates otherwise.
If you can not make safe arrangements to have your pet with you, leave them at home.