Collisions

Occasionally you may find yourself waiting in a long line of vehicles for extended periods because a crash has temporarily shut down a highway. Here are some insights as to why the RCMP, working with the area highways contractor, has closed the road.

Driving in poor weather conditions requires choosing an appropriate speed and then continually adjusting that speed as the conditions change. The speed signs beside our roads set the maximum for driving in ideal conditions and sometimes drivers forget this. You must consider those around you as well as yourself.

Cindy Li was involved in a hit & run crash. She had heard the siren of an approaching fire engine and slowed in preparation to yield to it. While her vehicle was still moving, it was struck from behind by another car.

The case of Topolewski v Blyschak arises from a collision between a commercial truck and a Honda Civic at the intersection of Mary Street and Hodgins Avenue in Chiliwack. Mr. Topolewski had driven his commercial truck northbound on Mary Street intending to make a right turn onto Hodgins Avenue.

The case of Heffernan v Chahal involves a collision following a right turn onto 152 Street from 82 Avenue in Surrey. Richard Heffernan stopped at the red light to turn right onto 152 Street. When the light for traffic on 82 Avenue turned yellow, he made the turn.

Hey, you'll know the answer to this, why are police road closures allowed to be so long when they are investigating a collision? I don't think that a road should ever be closed for more than about an hour.

We all have what we perceive as a traffic problem in our neighbourhoods. Here's a Facebook discussion of a recent one near where I live: Nanoose Bay Beefs & Bouquets. As you can see, there is disappointment in the response of authorities and a few different proposed solutions.

The case of Stene v Roberts involves a rear end collision on Highway 17 in Surrey. A tow truck was working on the westbound shoulder near the Port Mann Bridge. Both drivers obeyed the slow down, move over rule and doing so resulted in the crash.

The case of Yu v Dynamic Air Solutions involves a collision between a motorcycle and the open driver's door of a pickup truck on Southwest Marine Drive in Vancouver. The key liability issue is whether motorcyclists should be allowed to proceed down lanes with parked vehicles so long as there is sufficient room to pass.

Jill Franklin was injured in a collision in 1990 while walking on the streets of Vancouver. Based on her experience she wrote the Auto Accident Survivor's Guide for British Columbia. It details her experience dealing with ICBC and the provincial medical system. The book is now out of print but can be read on line for free.