When I was 16, I got my driver’s licence (this was long before the L and N requirements, which I could have benefited from).
Not too long after that, I got into the worst accident of my life, sadly trashing my poor mother’s car.
I was turning left near Burnaby North Secondary School just after I had graduated from there and misjudged the speed of the driver approaching me.
I tried to complain that it “wasn’t my fault” because the oncoming driver was going “too fast” but I was told that it was, in fact, my fault as I was the one who turned into an oncoming vehicle.
Fair enough.
I write this because I was contacted recently by a driver who made the exact same complaint to me – and ICBC – and got the exact same answer.
People often write me hoping I’ll take up their case, but I just can’t in this situation. The crash happened a few weeks ago at the intersection of Griffiths Drive and Arcola Street.
The driver who contacted me said he was turning left at two-way stop when this “idiot with the Land Rover was flying there, my car already in the middle of the road.” He says he was “almost killed” by the other driver.
The driver made two basic points. First, that the “idiot” was driving too fast. The second point is that making the intersection a four-way stop would solve the problem.
For the first point, ICBC apparently has already told him that he’s 100% at fault, which seems awfully fast to get an answer. But I have to agree. When you are turning left into traffic, you are the one who is responsible for what is coming in your direction. As long as the Land Rover driver didn’t run the stop sign, the other driver is at fault.
Now that doesn’t mean the Land Rover driver shouldn’t slow down. That person was likely speeding and it does make it difficult to judge a turn. But it’s your responsibility when you are making a left turn. Maybe be more cautious.
For the second point, the driver said he was told by police and firefighters that this is a “bad” intersection and I agree. I used to live close to there and know it well. A four-way stop might be a good idea, but you can say that about dozens and dozens of Burnaby intersections.
At some point, drivers have to take some responsibility for how they drive. Be more cautious. Take your time.
Follow Chris Campbell on Twitter @shinebox44.
