Driving patterns and speed limits are not something we instinctually know the minute we sit behind a wheel. Traffic experts and a little something called science are used to determine what a safe speed is for a certain area, or what traffic patterns make the most sense for a city.
It is quite clear that, as a collective community, we have not been able to figure out what to do when we drive through Marine Avenue’s business district. As the amount of vehicle and pedestrian activity has changed, so have many of our driving habits.
The problem is, we have not figured out a consistent way to deal with a downtown highway that does not make a lot of sense anymore.
Marine is a designated truck route, but also has a growing mix of cars, pedestrians and cyclists. Summer tourism traffic adds a whole new navigation element as those new to town get their bearings on where everything is.
Every time someone is hit or nearly hit by a driver who is distracted or going too fast, or an accident is caused by someone darting out on foot in the middle of traffic, it becomes more and more apparent that a change needs to be made along Marine.
BC Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure currently has the jurisdiction to change speed limits, install crosswalks or even designate a different highway route other than Marine.
City of Powell River and its residents can rally to have the speed limit decreased, crosswalks installed or traffic rerouted, but it is a long haul that begins with government studies that could be years in the making.
Until then we all need to slow down, but within reason. Crawling down Marine at 25 kilometres per hour is not going to help the problem, and may only serve to increase road rage.
The current speed limit through Marine Avenue’s business district is 50 kilometres per hour. It would be nice if we could all cautiously travel just under the speed limit, paying special attention to crosswalks and darting pedestrians, just like we are all taught when we learn to drive.
If we go over or under the speed limit or reach for our phones while doing a driving test: guess what? We fail.
We can probably all agree that driving more than 50 kilometres per hour down Marine’s main drag is dangerous, and anything under 30 kilometres is infuriating. For now, let’s stick to the current speed limit.
Jason Schreurs, publisher/editor
