It was inevitable the District of North Vancouver’s resolution to quicken crash clearing on our highways and bridges would fail to garner support at the Union of B.C. Municipalities convention.
The resolution called for a reworking of the Motor Vehicle Act so police wouldn’t have to race to every crash that results in more than $1,000 of damages (which means every crash). The minimum threshold for an investigation would be bumped to $10,000. Responsibilities for clearing crashes would be shared, so regular fender benders could be shipped to the curb before the morning commute turns into an odyssey that tests the patience of drivers and their bosses.
The resolution was too logical. And so, a motion to reduce highway congestion met political gridlock as UBCM delegates condemned the resolution with their most vicious verdict: requires further study.
However, what can be far more crucial than UBCM resolutions are the face-to-face meetings that take place away from the convention floor.
We’re hopeful Transportation Minister Claire Trevena will take one of those meetings, and soon. Daily gridlock does more than foment frustration. As knuckles whiten around steering wheels, the odds of another crash rise exponentially while exhaust rises atmospherically.
We’re often forced to choose between economic imperatives and environmental necessities. Traffic jams are the rare issue where we can all stand on the same side.
Yes, we need public transit to be bigger and better, and more frequent. But we also need just a ration of rationality.
We have a resolution. All we need now is some resolve.
And step on it.
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