How Safe Is Your Neighborhood Intersection?

0
188

By Matt Rhoney

 

Whether you drive to work, go for a bicycle ride every morning, or have children that walk to school, it’s important to know whether or not that the intersections in your neighborhood (or those that you travel every day) are safe.

 

Even though there’s always a risk of being involved in an accident, and often when you least expect it, knowing where the most dangerous intersections are and finding out a way to avoid them, can help you stay safe while traveling around Vancouver.

 

Ready to find out if an intersection that you use every day makes the Insurance Corporation of British Columbia’s (ICBC) list of “most dangerous intersections”?

Knight Street & SE Marine Drive

 

Whether you navigate this area on a regular basis or only when necessary, you probably know why it’s considered the most dangerous intersection in British Columbia. Just take a look at an overhead map of the area, and you will notice the various on and off ramps.

 

Even for lifelong residents, this particular stretch can be confusing and a bit nerve-wracking, so you might imagine the stress and danger of an out-of-towner or inexperienced driver navigating the intersection and ramps.

 

Speed, failure-to-yield, and aggressive driving, in addition to heavy traffic, can all play a role in making this already complicated area even more hazardous. Statistics show that in a four-year period, there were more than 1,300 accidents at the Knight Street & SE Marine Drive intersection alone. That’s twice as many as some of the other dangerous intersections in Vancouver.

Boundary Road & Grandview Highway

 

The intersection of Boundary Road & Grandview Highway is close to Cascade Heights, Renfrew Heights, and various stores and other establishments. As a busy area, it’s not uncommon to find motorists running red lights or “jumping” a green light. These kinds of careless driving behaviors are responsible for many intersection accidents every year.

 

The Boundary Road & Grandview Highway intersection had 668 reported accidents, and if you travel this intersection on a regular basis, you are 20 times more likely to be involved in a crash at this intersection than other areas throughout Vancouver.

Knight Street Bridge

 

More than 800 car accidents were reported at the Knight Street Bridge intersection between 2009 and 2013. Depending on if there’s an accident on either end of the bridge or one on the bridge, traffic congestion can become a problem.

 

When roads become congested, the risk for a car accident becomes greater due to inattentive, impatient, or “rage-prone” drivers. Weather can also play a large role in accidents, especially on bridges where ice and snow are more likely to cause slick driving conditions.

Burrard Street Bridge & Pacific Street Ramps

 

In a four-year period, there were more than 700 accidents that occurred on the Burrard Street Bridge & Pacific Street ramps. While inattentive drivers and heavier traffic may be responsible in this popular area near the Vancouver Aquatic Centre, drivers under the influence of alcohol may also play a role (especially if there are celebrations or special events nearby).

Lions Gate Bridge

 

While the intersections that connect with Lions Gate Bridge are not considered as dangerous as Knight Street & SE Marine Drive, it comes in as a close second. During a four-year period, there were more than 1,000 car accidents reported in the area.

Tips for Staying Safer on Vancouver Roads

 

Ideally, it would be great if you could avoid all dangerous intersections throughout Vancouver, but what if you live near a dangerous intersection or have to drive through one to get to work? Here are some tips for staying safer:

 

  • Avoid driving distracted and stay attentive on the road
  • Use caution when entering an intersection and watch for oncoming and incoming traffic
  • Plan an alternate route
  • Talk to your city officials about your safety concerns
  • Drive responsibly and defensively