26 - Friday, August 13, 1999 — North Shore News north GG NEWS photo Julie iverson Walking drunk. GUIDED by an ICBC representative, SMW car club member Paui Fort tries to walk wearing 2 sair of fatal vision goggles, which give the perception of driving drunk. — JEEP OWNERS Complete mechanical & electrical repairs by factory trained technician JMPEX AUTO 7166A West 14th Streat Tel: 985-6237 } {off Pemberton Ave., entrance at rear) ey ee en ee ee Front or Rear Brakes + O8 & Fitter Change Cnty $35.9 most cars 1660 Mackay Ad North Vancouver Camplete Autcmoativa Reguirs, Maintenance We specialize in: PACA A & Sorvice * Cooling Systems "qi iereng 296 PEMBERTON, NORTH VAN = Ais cantoning “sal 937-1 Guaranteed Best Price © Fost ‘Briva-it: Service « Free Estimates Nor-est Radiators Conling System Specialists for 4? Years T175 Wost 14th, rorth Vancouver 3 blocks south of Marine off Pemberton fussause™ O84 -0374) 3 © BOB member Govt Inspection Facility 53897 © AirCare Certified 80618 © Open: Mon-Fri 8-5 © Sat 9-3 834 West 12¢ St. N. Van For an appointment call 984-0077 WE CAN ME. \ RUNNENG SM SMG rH 3B? ALL SUMMER LONG. ‘Yas kaw, ezrzners hart on your rat - Co haat, the trong, and a those extre kheceors. Sa ters. ham Haas Taisen from yee ce 2 ke was Sioaeret Service spre, an jus $2154, smehaing a free rand ol ant mute Cet Mover Toraminam’s Sumer Seen peat Sy pe BS wo koe Yon ca reread ants Hesitation? = Difficulty driving in one or more shore news AUTO WITH that great new truck route built aiong the connecting stretches of Welch, lst and 2nd Streets, Forbes and Esplanade Avenues and the Low Level Road in North Vancouver, things are moving aiong quite smoothly, right? Almost. A recent conversation with Sgt. Bob Beaudoin of the North Van RCMP traffic scc- tion revealed an odd occur- renee that neither of us expected. Truckers are run- ning red lights at an alarming rate. Deliberately, it seems. You see, since the ICBC sponsored “Corridor Enforcement” campaign was launched back in April of this year, the traffic squad has been able to spend a good amount of time down in the Lower Lonsdale area, speciti- cally on Esplanade Avenue, and keeping a close eye out for driving infractions on that a Leaking | red fuld? @ Harsh shiiting? gears? E& Car sounds like it's running, but won't move? FREEROND TTT OE, (COMPLETE TRANSMISSION NEW GASNEY AND FLIER. moins + Dime, Seared Hos Wd Live ety Anat oot Seed 230 West 15th St. at Mzine Drive Worth Vancouver =” «984-0371 S=_Sgs : ee Rf Conie& Sée Us “We Oaiy Help Yau B missio | WN. VANCOUVER - (604) 987-8687 &60 West 15th Street, Beside Broco Auto Glass Independently Owned & Operated * Hours: Mon.-Fri. 8-6 signals hich «. ‘ume thoroughfare. bes sdermore, thar particu- lar stretch of truck route also happens to contain a couple of more pleasant attractions: The Quay and Wateriront Park. Considering the dual pur- pose of Esplanade, accommo- dating high volume through- traffic and tourist traffic in and around the waterfront, city engineers wisely choose to optimize the traffic lights at Chesterfield, Lonsdale and St. Georges to promote a lower speed through this area. “Synchronizing” is hardly a new concept for traffic sig- nals. Marine Drive has used the system for years. Indeed, |(Softouch]} AUTO DETAILING LTD. * Handwashing * Shampooing * Leather sare * Waxing * Polishing * Gar Care Products A touch above the rest 753 Marine Prive (rear) North Vancouver 988-5466 it occurs along many main roads in the Lower Mainland, and the Western World for that matter. When traffic lights are syn- chronized it is to ensure the smoothest possible flow of iaffic, When a vehicle scarts off from one green light and travels ata set speed, usually the speed limit, that vehicle ill, ideally, catch green lights for along ‘stretch, depending on the time of day and on traffic congestion (and where or when the driver decid: s to turn off). Travelling over the desig- nated limits causes one to encounter red light after red light which is most fruscrating for the ignorant driver while laughable for those who know better. Hurry up, wait. Hurry up, wait. Just like the army, I hear. Go with the flow, folks. Catch that synchronized wave of greens. The synchronized stretch along Esplanade has one quirk: The optimum speed between Chesterfield and St. Georges is 30 to 40 km/h during peak hours, 10 to 20 Klicks less than the posted : speed limit of 50 kn/h, This is not an unreasonable encumbrance when one real- izes that this area is often teaming with pedestrians, sigh scers, movie goers and com- muters alike, and che desired effect is to slow everyone down to a more leisurely, safer pace. : Moreover, and keeping i in mind that this is a truck route, lower speeds in this area are - terribly important. Seasoned truckers know all about syn-: chronized lights and are more than happy to ride through a. =.-.: chain of, green lights at 4 iower, safer speed simply. .. because getting those big rigs rolling from a standstill takes a Jor of fuel and causes unneces- ‘sary wear and tear, not to. mention pollution. Think about that the next’: time your scream past an apparent “slow poke” only to find yourself screeching toa halt at a red. ; Again, there will be noth: ° ing stopping you from legally” : travelling at 50 km/h through this area, but if you do so you will only meet with a red at: : Lonsdale Avenue, wait a few - - seconds, and then catch another red at either _ Chesterfield or St. Georges, depending upon which direc- tion you're travelling. : Oddly, there seems to be an inordinate amount of “unseasoned” truckers. travel- ling North Van’s low road as the RCMP are handing out = an overabundance of tickets to newer truckers running reds. Rather than. clucing into the fact that the lights are designed to oblige slower moving vehicles, these frus- trated truckers are learning the hard way, the expensive way. Too bad. it’s so simple. ; Slow down along Esplanade Ave. folks. Catch the wave. It’s a fancastic little piece of North Van we're talking — about. _. > Enjoy the ride. Bef.