Shared-

BLIND corners. Tricky
merges. Busy intersec-
tions with no left turn

seems to

ich danger

sand near-
are far too common.

But one by one, these ha
ards are largely being elimi-
nated under a shared-cost
Program spearheaded — by
ICBC.

ICBC’s Road
Improvement Strategy aims to
reduce the frequency and
severity of crashes through
road safety engineering and
safety-conscious planning and
design. corporation
works with municipalities and
the provincial Ministry of
Transportation and Highways
to identify local safety con-
cerns and find shared-cost
solutions to them.

For example, last year
ICBC and the Ministry cost-
shared the extension of the
east-bound on-ramp from the
Lynn Valley Parkway onto
Highway 1, allowing drivers
more room to merge with
highway traffic. ICBC con-
tributed $75,000 to that pro-
ject.

As well, the insurance cor-
poration teamed up with the
City of North Vancouver on
the installation of a traffic sig-
nal at 15th and St. George’s
Street, and an upgrade of

GORDON Parsons (left) and Mavis Johnson (right), both of ICBC, were on hand
when Surrey City Councillor Jeanne Eddington checked out a king-sized traffic
light, installed under !CBC’s Road improvenient Strategy.

pavement = markings —at
Westview Drive and Larson
Road. ICBC’s contribution to
these improvements totaled
$27,000.

Province-wide, ICBC last
year spent $8 million on 79
road improvement projects.
They ranged from installing
50 new jumbo-sized, high-vis-

Bordeaux

ibility traffic lights in Surrey,
to putting up 14 kilometres of
wildlife fencing —_ along
Highway 97 in the Okanagan.

Mavis Johnson, ICBC’s
manager of road improvement
strategies, says projects are
selected on a_business-case
basis, and must offer at least a
two-to-one return on invest-

King

Queen

ment in two years. That is,
there must be a reduction in
crashes that brings twice as
much in reduced claims as it
cost to make the improve-
ment. So far the program has
delivered.

“Some of our projects have
brought closc to a five-to-one
return, according to befure
and after studies by our traffic
engineering consultants,” says
Johnson. “Reducing hazards
on the roads really makes 4
difference.”

Reducing danger
at intersections

POLICE estimate that about 20% of the crashes
they attend happen at signalized intersections.

Phat’s why it’s important for drivers, pedestrians and cyclists
to take extra care when approaching an intersection
plenty of activity at intersections
lined up to make left-hand turns, Vehicles are stuck in the mid-
dle of the intersection, sometimes three cars deep. People are
ng the street — some are fast, others slow. There might
be lights and stop signs. Kids are on bikes and people are in
swalks, With all this action, working your way through an
ection can be a juggling act filled with risk.
Here are some tips from ICBC for approaching intersec-
sudden moves that might
: ‘other driv
& As you approach an intersection check the traffic light ahead
and maintain a speed that will allow you to stop safely.
& Unless you have just seen the light turn green, you should be
prepared to stop in case it changes to yellow. Always check your
mirrors and look around. Slow down ‘well in advance if you are
approaching a red or yellow light.
§ You should only proceed through a yellow light if it is unsafe
to stop.
W@ If the intersection you are approaching has pedestrian signals,
use them to your advantage. If the “Don’t Walk” signal is flash-
ing or on full, the light might be about to change. Be prepared.
Bic is unsafe to change lanes in an intersection. To avoid quick
manoeuvres, ensure you are in the correct lane well before a
turn.
@ Always use your turn signals well in advance of making any
move so other drivers, cyclists and pedestrians know what you
are doing.
M2 If you are the first car to stop at an intersection, stop behind
the line or crosswalk.
Always leave space between you and the vehicle in front of
you when stopped. A good practice is to Icave enough space so
you can sec the wheels of the vehicle in front of you (about a
car length).
@ Keep your ‘wheels straight when stopped.
B When the light turns green, check the intersection before
you move forward in case someone is running a red light or
jumping a green (counting to three works well).

See How, page 30

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