Intersection dangerous
Friday June 13 2008
Crossing guard Ralph Landry isn’t exaggerating when he says the school crossing at Highway 9 and Oak Ridge/Rolling Hills drives is “extremely” dangerous. In fact, if anything his numbers — 110 “more serious” traffic violations at the intersection in the first five months of this year — are conservative.
When a Banner photographer spent 10 minutes there at the end of the school day on a Wednesday, he witnessed several incidences, including a west-bound van that stopped halfway through the intersection on a red light and then proceeded to back up; a northbound car that drove though the intersection three or four seconds after the light was red; and a northbound car who barely waited until students were out of the way before making a right-hand turn.
Landry didn’t even lift his pen to include these items in his notebook; they are so routine he doesn’t classify them as serious.
It seems something of a miracle, really, that a student hasn’t been struck by a vehicle, seriously injured or killed.
The stretch of road between the junction of Highways 9 and 10 and east of Oak Ridge/Rolling Hills drives is an extremely busy one. Cars in both directions jockey for position depending on what lane they need to be in and, those heading east accelerate quickly.
The speed limit is 80 km/hour there, but flashing lights warn motorists to drop their speed to 60 km/hour during peak student crossing times. Again observation tells us many do not heed the signs.
Mayor Rob Adams has made two requests to the Ministry of Transportation: to lower the speed limit there and increase the crossing time. Both are reasonable and both should be addressed as soon as possible.
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