Editor,
We have a growing rash of stop signs in Revelstoke. Unfortunately the city appears to think it is the only way of improving safety.
My real favourite is having to stop at Mackenzie and Victoria when a train is on the crossing. Cautious drivers need to check that there are no low sport cars whipping under the train wheels or tourists coming the wrong way from the town side. I guess the bears might be tired of standing in the same place and might want to cross. Couldn’t we have a more intelligent light there?
The most recent is the addition at Airport Way and Nichol, the only logic that has been provided is that it makes it easier and safer for the Arrow Heights students who live on the hospital side to cross the road on their way to school. There are about 20 of them. I am sure with a little instruction and supervised practice they could learn to cross safely, without the four-way stop. In observations twice this month, before and after school, I saw only ONE student cross at Nichol. Another group crossed at the intersection closer to town with adults. Meanwhile every vehicle is supposed to come to a complete stop decide who got there first. Or is it who is biggest? Or the most polite? This is not an improvement in safety, it is a recipe for fender benders. Students attend school about 185 days a year and are crossing the road for possibly an hour a day, around 2% of the time! There has to be a better system.
Victoria and Eighth? Give the big trucks a break! Victoria should have the right of way. It would make that intersection much quieter for the residents. Again a school zone might be appropriate for the high school kids who can’t cross a road safely yet!
Others are at Camozzi and Nichol. Surely 98 per cent of the traffic is from the ski hill? Where is the sense in stopping them? The turn right onto Victoria at the Nomad should revert to a yield.
Some drivers lose respect for foolishly placed stop signs and then fail to stop when they should. There is extra wear from stopping and starting. Extra emissions result from this kangaroo driving adding to pollution. Four way stop signs are limited to North America and South Africa. It’s time we learnt from the rest of the world!
Andy Parkin,
Revelstoke