Friday, March 6, 1998 ~— North Shore News — 35 * d Wagon-flame | DERRICK Johnstone stands beside his nine-year | labor of love, a 1949 Chevrolet station wagon. As you can see, this isn’t your run-oJ-the-mil! station wagon. The North Vancouver man drag races the classic machine, and to reduce weight has installed plexiglass windows and some fiberalass body parts. A Chevy 400 horsepower V8 engine muscles the car to a half-mile time of just 11 seconds. (If you have a special relationship with your vehicle, call the North Shore News photography department at 985-2131). IT seems that B.C. is not only renowned for it’s scenic beauty and bonehead drivers, it also has a zare road fea- ture known as the “uncontrolled intersec- tion.” It is something I’ve always taken for granted, having been born and raised here, but it is no surprise thar many drivers are caughe off guard by the contrivarice of streets lacking the goofy encum- brance of signs telling drivers what they may or may not do. There are laws, however, and while right of way rules should be obvious to sume- one trained to drive in B.C., drivers hailing from elsewhere seem to be required to guess (they’re not really required to guess, bur they sure act that way). This is not a good thing. Basically, when two (or more) roads meet at any angle and lack any sort of reg- ulatory signs (stop, yield, etc.), this is known as an uncontrotled intersection. The rule drivers are to fol- tow when approaching these intersections is pretty sinyple: Drivers are to give way ro any All wheel drive ABS Air bags NEWS photo Cindy Goodman intersections signals vehicle that is to the right. The car oa the right has the right. Right? With that in mind, please be aware that right-of-way has to be given before one can “Tt is fortunate, but no fluke, that uncontrolled intersections are most commen in quiet, rural areas...” take it. One should never assume that any driver on the left: a) can see velticles on the right; b) has time to react to the vehicle on the right; ¢) knows the rules; d} could care less about the rules. So, one must slow dawn UTBACK . 80 watt AM/FM cussett Keyless entry fd Fog lamps & sport rack m 165 HP. engine mM Power windows & locks AS Power heated mirrors v SS 235 when approaching anv uncon- trolled intersection in order to allow enough time to assess the intentions of other drivers in the area and/or give way when required. The “car on the right” rule is not arbitrary. The car on the left has more space to observe cars on the right (in faet, half the intersection). Furthermore, when a “T- bone collision” occurs -— and they often do in these areas -— it is the driver of the car on the right who suffers the most. Hey, it's a good rule. Right? Tt is fortunate, bur no fluke, thar uncontrolled inter- sections are most common in quiet, rural areas where traffic is SO sparse that a stop sign or such would be a senseless hin- drance and would otherwise encourage drivers to break the stop flaw. An uncontrolled intersec- tion is designed to encourage drivers to slow down and pay attention. Unfortunately, many davers ASSume right of way and sll drive at full speed through an uncon- trolled intersection while thinking -- because the road they are on is bigger, more used or better suited tor bonehead behavior, or that ~ FROM § + PDL, freight & taxes fd _ North Vancouver there’s never anyone coming up that little side road — that slowing down is a waste of time. Very often these driver's are correct, and that is why city engmeers do not pur stop ins in areas with very little trafhe. Slowing down wastes a lot less time that stopping completely, and much less time than crashing (which is what can happen when 2 bonehead blows through a stop sign). 1.0 and behold, the rudi- mentary driving ability described by the uncontrolled intersection is becoming less and less the way motonsts actually drive. Quaint North Shore neighborhood after quaint North Shore neighborhood are crying out tor better methods of slowing the bone- heads and the bewildered down. There are numerous alternatives for “calming” traffic without stopping it completely — some more sensible than others — and those will be discussed in a near-future column or we, In the meantime, take control of the uncontrolled. Calm down, look around and for heaven's sake, be sate. 980-2464 mm «., 235. Donaghy Ave, Korth Vancouver SPRING CAR CARE © tajector clesoes tlnctades Labor 4 cleaner) MeL hoe. Froat or Rear on Domestic Alternators/Starters The Best Place for Alternat ¢- Starters & Batteries! 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