RCMP & ICBC Implement Intersection Campaign

Last week, the ICBC, partnering with the RCMP and other British Columbia policing organizations began a month-long Intersection awareness and enforcement campaign. ICBC wants to raise awareness of intersection safety as we go into the slippery Fall to Spring season here on the 'Wet' Coast. The campaign was kicked off with a dramatic mock crash at the intersection of Beatty and Robson in Vancouver on November 6, 2009.

I'm personally very happy about this campaign, as it is something that I think is under enforced, while speed infractions are somewhat over enforced. I believe the reason for this is that speed infractions are easy to prove (radar & laser units,) while lane-use and intersection infractions are harder to prove before a judge in traffic court.

By ICBC's own statistics, 40% of crashes happen at intersections. As such, it's my opinion that the police should be enforcing lane discipline and intersection usage more than they do currently, but I understand the logistical problems with that. Lane and intersection enforcement is less efficient than speed enforcement because it's not possible to set up big traps at high-efficiency locations like they can with an anti-speeding campaign.

So please, be aware of your lane discipline and saefety in intersections. This is especially important in the wet, rainy season as children are going to and from school and the skies are cloudy and dark. I wholeheartedly support this campaign. Please tell your family and friends to watch their safety at intersections. Let's help ICBC and your local police department to NOT give tickets to people we care about, while at the same time making the roads safer for everyone who uses them!