WV municipal staff asked for truck limits on steep streets in °95 By lan Noble News Reporter LAST year West Vancouver munici- pal staff called for a temporary ban on truck traffic on three steep streets, including the one involved in Friday’s deadly truck accident. Council did not act on the recommendation. The May 1993 report recommended that trucks over 20,000 kilograms (22 tons), such as the runaway dump truck that killed a pedestrian Friday at 22nd and Marine Drive, should be banned from travelling downhill on [5th, 21st and 22nd between the Upper Levels and Fulton Avenue for a six-month test period. The report to council noted earlier accidents that were similar in nature but ultimately less destructive. The staff report pointed to four separate incidents aver the previous five years when com- NEWS’ STREET SURVEY: Stringent checks needed By fan Noble News Reporter IN the wake of Friday’s deadly truck accident in West Vancouver, a random street-side sampling of North Shore residents agreed that more must be done to prevent similar tragedies. The residents, interviewed at the 22nd and Marine disaster site, said truck companies should take more responsibility for the accidents and called for more stringent checks by enforcement agencies and larger fines for safety violations. : . 7 Russ Fraser, a former attorney general and at one time responsible _-for the Motor Vehicle Branch, told the News enforcement should be inereas-d at work sites, where the dumg -rucks can be found. But motor vehicle inspector Jay Northcott said the required regula- tions are in place, they just aren’t being followed. Whatever the reasons for the five deaths ar the hands of dump truck drivers CUT wood and a jumble of wire fatal accident has residents dem mereial trucks lost their brakes and became run aways. The meidents caused significant property damage “and it way very fortunate that there were no fatalities or personal injuries.” “The safety of downhill truck trattic on the steep north/south hills in’ Ambleside and Dundarave has been a matter of concern to dis- trict. staff and the general public for several years,” said the report's author, then senior engineer Gordon MacKay, “Although the num: ber of trucks travelling downhill is small in. com- panson to the overall traffic volume, it is still clear that the potential for mechanical failure on poorly maintained trucks does exist and: the consequences ef such an occurrence could be tragic.” MacKay said his report was considered by West Vancouver council at an in-camera execu: tive meeting in May or June last year, but coun- cil decided not to go forward with it. The report resulted from Coun. Ron Wood’s request for a report on the provision of pull-out areas on 15th and 21st for trucks to pull over and check their brakes. But Wood said such areas proved too expensive, Currently, said Wood, there is a pull-out area on Taylor Way that truckers must use to check their brakes before descending the steep road that intersects with Marine Drive. and metal are all that's left cf a pow anding action be taken to prevent similar tragedies. “My impression is truckers know that and deliberately avoid Taylor Way. P can’t prove that but thars my impression,” said the 21st Street resident. Wood said the West Vancouver tragedy is not an isolated incident. Thousands of trucks in the province are ina “poor sure of repair.” fr will happen again,” he said. The proposal to ban southbound tratfic on Lath, 2ist and 22nd presemted logistical prob- lems, said Wood, With Dundarave being rede- veloped “house by house,” the truck trartic has increased, said Wood. Traffic banned from the three streets would travel down Taylor Way and then east-west through cross residential streets such as Inglewood or Keith Road. The increased truck ‘traffic on those streets would likely not be well received, he said. Barbara Ronsley, a Lith Surcet resident who wants the recommended ban implemented, said Bjorn Bjornson, the pedestrian killed Friday, died unnecessarily, The district, she said, has had MacKav's report for more than a year. “But maybe now they will do. something,” said Ronsley. “I'm scared to let my kids play in the back yard.” It runs along 15th Street. “Tean’t believe there aren't regulations about this,” she said. On June 22, an accident: removed: bushes well-maintained trucks. a and trees from the front of her corner-lor house. Resusley said her family has recently moved back to its 15th Street home afier four years in Toronto. She immediately noticed the increase in traffic, particularly big, noisy trucks like dump trucks and meat trucks making deliveries, likely to large grocery stores, said Ronsley. Ronsley asked why such trucks aren't kept to ‘Taylor Way, which was designed for trucks. Such a move would not require more money oF extra development, she said. A study by the engineering department esti- mates 38 heavy, rear axle trucks such as dump trucks, concrete trucks and large transport trucks a day travel southbound on the three streets. According, to police, all previous runaway incidents were the result of mechanical failures, usually stemming from inadequate muainte- nance, Quoting West Vancouver Police Chief Constable Hal Jenkins, the report added that despite more active truck checks by provincial inspectors, the problem of inadequate mainte- nance is not being reduced. Noting the large rurnover expected on West Vancouver council after November's municipal elections, Wood said any municipal changes to trucking regulations won't be brought in until after the election. NEWS photos Mike Wakefield er pole severed by an out-of-control dump truck on Friday. The Dead man was Fraser, 2 West Vancouver resident, wants inspectors on North Shore streets to stop trucks and inspect them. “] think we need a concentrated safety drive on dump trucks, Pm not call- ing on government to spend more money, I'm talking about redirecting their energies.” British Columbia Trucking president Paul Landry agreed, saying entoree- ment is taking place on the highway while the accidents are occurring in urban areas. More mobile enforcement is needed, rather than depending on truck weigh stations to catch offenders. Truck drivers going into weigh stations for inspection will be prepared, he said. In large areas of the Lower Mainland, said Landry, “E think you can operate inde®- nitely without being subject to any enforcement action.” But Northeotr said it’s up to the trucking industry fo take responsibility for maintaining equipment properly, Under current regulations, the driver must check his truck’s brakes every day. Every six months trucks must go through complete inspections. Drivers must also have professional driving licenses and know their responsibilities. Northeott said. mobile checks are another part of the current enforcement procedure. But he asked why taxpayers should pay extra for enforcement when most incidents can be prevented by dei- vers taking, responsibility and checking truck bra “Why aren't the truckers spending 10 minutes to cheek their brakes before they drive their trucks?” he asked. “If the professional driver is tou lazy to spend five minutes on that vehicle ‘Teresa, Nancy and Martin. why should enforcement agencies be responsible for him and take the flak tor A) memorial service Bjornson is set for Sunday, in the past six years on the North Shore, “whatever procedures they have now are failing,” said West Vancouver resident Judy Renaud. Pat Hardman, who lives near the crash site, said Monday that owners of the trucks must. be held responsible for truck accidents, * She said employees must tell employers if truck brakes aren’t working, and it’s the employers’ responsibility to listen to their drivers. David Thorne agreed that employers must be responsible for making sure trucks “are maintained. He wants bigger fines tor non-compliance with regulations and more inspections. North Vancouver resident Forrest Blake said employers should crack down on employees driving che trucks, Not enough time is spent checking trucks, he added. Blake wants to see criminal charges laid against the truck driver and truck company after Friday's accident. To prevent similar accidents he wants enforcement beeted up. “P would rather have to pay a bit more and make sure Tam safe on the road. What value do you place on human fife?” Blake asked. Marion Harris, who lives in the building where the 4-Runner hit by the truck came to rest below the accident site, acknowledged that she doesiv'r know what che answer to preventing more accidents is, but placed the onus on truck compa- nies to make sure truck brakes are in working order. Harris wants to see trucks such as the dump truck involved in Friday's “crash banned from using steep 21st and 22nd strects. Nearby resident Marie Bird said she doesn’t see the necessity of banning, not doing, enough?” paramedic for almost 10 years From page \ work as a paramedic for about 10 years. Mose recently he worked at the Dundarave Capers store as a health care consultant abd as a salesman for the Sears store at Capilano Mall. He was an avid hiker and enjoyed trips up to Grouse and the Lions, Bjorn Bjornson leaves behind six children: Daniel, Andrew, Selena, Aron, Josh and Katrina; his present wife Gisela; first wife fane; mother Cecilia, brother Bob; sister Donna; grandchildren Tara, Ashley and Erin; and nieces and nephews Kenneth, Kirsten, Kaethe, Taylor, Kefryn, Torrey, Lisa, NEWS photo Terry Peters FRIDAY’S crash aftermath kept emer- gency crews busy. for ,