Delbrook was designed to be a four-lane road when perhaps cars were not driven so fast or drivers were not so impatient. What was suitable in the fifties and sixties has become a headache for local residents when Delbrook seems to become a training ground for Formula 1 drivers.
What are the speeds like on Delbrook?
The only District of North Vancouver data I have are from three or four years ago. I am confident that the situation has not improved, and my perception is that it is worse.
On a week day we have approximately 8,000 cars a day using the road.. Looking at percentages we have about 1200 cars a day going at a combined speed of 64 at the bend above Delbrook Park. On the weekend the speeding continues with 7,000 cars a day we have figures of 1,000 cars going over a combined 66.
Speeds of over 120 have been recorded. Is the road safe?
Is the road safe?
We are told that nobody has been killed which is quite true. We have actually had a roll over at the top of the road, a pedestrian injured at the Evergreen crosswalk and many near misses. Recently crossing at Windsor a vehicle stopped for me on the crosswalk with the following vehicle so close behind that the driver had to bail to curbside just missing me on the crosswalk.
What is the problem?
The problem is that many drivers are not driving in a reasonable manner.
Everyone seems to be in such a rush. There is almost a character change for some people when they enter their vehicles. There is a Jekyll and Hyde transformation. Our behaviour would not be accepted in other locations such as a supermarket. If we assume that the distance we are driving on Delbrook is about 1,000 metres then these are the numbers: Driving a kilometer at 65 as opposed to 50 you will gain a huge 5 seconds. The chances are you will be stopped at Queens and Delbrook at the lights and that takes away the 5 second advantage. Why bother?
Where are the accident spots?
From 2016 to 2020 we have had 100 accidents with the worst places for Delbrook and Queens, Montroyal and Delbrook. Saville and Vienna are also accident spots.
What can be done?
We are in need of a cultural change in the way some people drive. The three legs of traffic calming are education, enforcement and engineering. Perhaps I.C.B.C. needs to do more as an educational leader in getting people to slow down. The R.C.M.P. I am sure are trying to do their best but there is a perception that there are not enough resources available to them.
Technical solutions could be used where manpower is an issue. More red light cameras at intersections would help solve the problem. Speed cameras on the major roads would have a dramatic effect. There is always “it is a tax grab” by some drivers but the answer to that is to slow down. In fact you driving fast and paying a fine will save me some taxes. A point-to-point system on roads such as the Whistler road or the Coquihalla would save lives but was sadly rejected by the government. Engineering is where we need to put our effort. The road has to be narrowed to slow people down. The Vision Zero project has created awareness about many ways of civilizing our roads.
So, please slow down on Delbrook. Leave earlier and remember it is better to be late in this world than earlier in the next. Research shows that speed kills.
Bev Parslow is an executive member of Delbrook Community Association
While we have just moved, we walked up Delbrook for over a decade in all types of weather, generally early in the morning. I agree with the comment that the road needs to be narrowed at a number of intersections. Too often we noticed many drivers would accelerate coming into an intersection and pass left turning vehicles on the right given plenty of width. The road doesn’t need to be extra wide. As it stands, the design encourages speed, both up and down.
The BC Government needs to allow our municipal bylaw enforcement officers and sheriffs to conduct moving traffic enforcement like they do in Alberta. Since our bylaw officers aren’t tied up with criminal offences, they could focus on bad driving. Alberta has done this for years and it works.
I agree with your point in speeding cars on Delbrook however narrowing might not be the best solution since we have slopes and heavy trucks will clog the road.
Thank you.